Secretary Sebelius and the House GOP.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius went to House and got grilled by the GOP. But I wish she had gone after Marsha Blackburn with both guns, and I know how she could have done it.

Marsha Blackburn, the GOP representative form Tennessee, said that several of her constituents complained that their policies had been cancelled. She said, "Some people like a Ford and some like a Ferrari, and some like red Solo cups, not crystal stem. You're taking away their choice." I really wish Secretary Sebelius would have said, " Would you advice those constituents to buy a Ford with no lights, or a red Solo cup with a crack halfway down it? You could use both of those, but they aren't completely useful. Well, if not, then why would you advice a person to buy a basically useless policy? The ACA set standards, just like cars and even cups have. And there are 4 levels of coverage everyone can buy, so they have choices. So Representative, are you saying there shouldn't be any standards for anything to buy, or that insurance companies should be different from other products and they should be able to continue to fleece some of their customers?" She could have sat back and she'd still probably be waiting for an answer. And Democrats would flock behind her, and the GOP would still be trying to answer her.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius went to the House and spoke about the ACA. She did well, but I wish I had sent this to her before she went to the hill.    

Think insurance companies like the ACA? Think again.

It was thought by some that the insurance companies, since they worked on the legislation and got to keep their companies under the ACA, would be okay with the act. But they're showing exactly what they think of the ACA in these cancellation policies.

Many people, maybe a couple of millions, are getting notices that starts by saying that the company, due to the ACA, is cancelling their health insurance policy. Now, that is technically true, but in fact, those getting this letter, which it later says, is eligible to get another policy under the ACA. But wouldn't it have been better, and in my mind, much better company customer relations, if that letter said at the beginning that under the ACA, the policy they have no longer meets minimum standards, and then said they could come in or call to get more information and the new rates. In other words, in stating the truth in the worst possible light and only then telling them of new policies and the rates, which may be subsidized but they're never told that. Which company would you rather work with, one that stated the case and tried to help you get subsidies, or one that tries to scare you and puts fear into you? But just like their policies that really did nothing for people that bought them, the company is trying to scare people into bad decisions. Have you noticed that this is only happening with individuals and not companies? That's because companies were never offered these shoddy policies, because the insurance companies knew that to keep these companies as customers, they needed to offer them health policies that worked. Insurance companies never worried about that with individuals.

It was thought having another 30 million customers would help the insurance companies accept the ACA. Obviously, insurance companies don't like the ACA. That's the only way a person can look at the letters they're sending to individual policy holders.      

GOP: Think we've given up? Ha!!!!!

For anyone who thought that the GOP had learned a lesson from the debacle that was the government shutdown, the GOP wants you to know that they still have no plans to have a federal government. First they'll continue with getting this one not working, and then they'll shut down the whole thing for good. Don't believe me? First it was Senator Ted Cruz that said that he'd shut down the government again in January if he thought it would get rid of the Affordable Care Act. Then, Senator Lindsey Graham said that he planned on blocking every appointment in the Senate until another hearing on Benghazi called be called and every survivor speaks. This while several federal judges and the lead lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board is scheduled for a vote soon. Now, Senator Marco Rubio has told the rest of the GOP that they need to vote against the Immigration Act bill that has passed the Senate. The fact that the bill is actually HIS bill means he now is begging the GOP to vote against himself. If that's not the picture next to the definition of dysfunction, it needs to be.

For some, it was thought that the GOP learned something for the government shutdown they caused. Well, if they did learn anything, they learned that they really want the federal government shutdown for good, and they'll do anything to make it happen.            

Don't get too happy, Democrats.

It seems to most that the GOP is basically becoming a very regional, right-wing political party. But Democrats, I wouldn't get too happy quite yet. And for both the GOP and Democrats, you have Harry Reid to thank for that.

Senator Olympia Snowe today said that she's worried that if the Democrats win the House in 2014, they would be "psychotic". Now, I'm not sure how in the world the Democrats could be anywhere close to how psychotic and dumb the GOP has become, but this is one area Senator Snowe shouldn't worry, and she should thank Senate Leader harry Reid for that. Why? Simply, even if the Democrats get control of the House, after the House passed a bill, all one GOP Senator would have to do is filibuster any non-budget bill or any appointment that came up. The Democrats can't win so many seats that the Senate would be filibuster-proof, which the Senate basically was in 2010. Think Cruz, Lee, or Paul wouldn't filibuster every bill that the Senate tried to pass if they know there's no GOP-controlled House to stop the bill from passing? Heck, Cruz right now has a hold on the head of the FCC because he wants to make sure that political ads won't tell who's behind them any more than they do now.

How strange would it be if Democrats took the House and due to a minority of Senators, the government is just as dysfunctional as it is right now. And who would the country have to thank for that? Harry Reid, who for 2 years has refused to back filibuster reform. Don't get too happy, Democrats. Winning the election in 2014 may not solve all your or the country's ills.      

Is politicizing heart surgery really a good idea?

Senator Imhofe of Oklahoma last week went to a doctor and, after a few tests, it was revealed that he needed heart surgery quickly. He got it done, and I hope he is in good health. But Senator, did you really have to politicize your surgery? And, if you needed to, can you explain why you lied and missed the point, almost at the same time?

Senator Imhofe, after his surgery, said that if he fell under the ACA, he'd probably be dead before he could've had the surgery. Now, I can't state if that's true or not, although I really completely doubt it, but Senator, you missed the point of the ACA completely. The point is that every American should be able to go see a doctor and get checked out, just like you did. Before the ACA was enacted, insurance companies could decide to exclude anyone they felt might present a foreseeable problem, excluding those with pre-insurance signings conditions. They also had the right to cap how much they would spend on each patient they insured. That is now gone, too. Then the Senator said that we shouldn't mess up the best health care in the world. If we had the best health care in the world, I'd agree. But considering that Senator Imhofe knows full well that America ranks last in NATO when health care is ranked, and 37th over-all in the world, I can only surmise that, Senator, you knowingly lied. I know where I got my rankings Senator, where did you get yours?

Senator Imhofe needed heart surgery recently, and I really do hope he's doing much better now. But Senator, was it really a good idea to politicize your surgery?        

Would you make up your mind, GOP.

For the life of me, I have no idea what the GOP is trying to say most of the time. But when it come to the ACA, they really are bending over backwards to take every side they can.

To start with, the GOP wants the ACA to go away, and as quickly as possible. Then, they complain that the system to sign in isn't running well enough. Okay GOP, which one is it? You can'r complain that you want a system gone but complain it isn't running well enough. But then, to top it off, they want Secretary of HHS, the department that is running the ACA, to be fired for not having the site running well. But, wasn't the HHS one of the Cabinet departments that you wanted to eliminate? Again GOP, what do you want?

Secondly, Former Vice-President Dick Cheney this weekend railed against the deficit. But wait, weren't you part of the Reagan administration that said deficits weren't bad? Then, as Vice-President, didn't you and Bush #43 cut taxes and run 2 wars, which was mostly kept of the books so the American people wouldn't see the deficits the administration was accumulating? You surely can't argue one way, run the government the same way, but then change sides and complain when other administrations do the same thing, can you? Actually, after meeting you back in the 80s, maybe you could.

Then, there's Steve Lonegan, who lost the New Jersey Senate election, had the nerve to say after the election last Wednesday that he thought so little of the Senate that he doesn't understand why anyone would run for a seat and was glad he lost. Huh? You just spent several months running, and now you're glad you lost? But wait! Today, you said the only reason you lost was due to the government shutdown. Want to try that again, Steve? Which way do you it, that it you wanted to win, that it doesn't matter if you that you lost, or you could have won if things had worked out different?

I normally don't understand why the GOP takes the view they take on many issues. But it really makes it tough when you take all sides of an argument and complain about all of the sides the next day. Really GOP, would you make up your mind? At least then, you'll only be wrong about 1 side of an argument.  

Why would America want a third party when we already have 3?

Tow things that America learned Wednesday night as we waited to see if the government would reopen is, one, that we don't need to a third party. In fact, we already have 3 political parties, but most people can only vote for one of two of them. And the second thing is, the GOP is still lying to America about the Tea Party. But what's really sad is that after Wednesday night, most people will only vote for one of the parties, no matter who's on the ballot.

Don't think there's 3 parties already? Well, both the Democratic party and the establishment GOP party never wanted a default, and tried to get their members to vote for a clean CR. So who were the 18 people in the Senate and the 144 people in the House who voted against the CR and to have America default on the debt? That's the Tea Party, the third political party in America. It's true that except in rare circumstances no Americans will see all 3 parties on a ballot, all 3 showed themselves Wednesday night.

So after Wednesday night, why is the establishment arm of the GOP saying that there are just 20 to 30 members of the Tea Party that tried to keep the government closed. Now, the Democrats are mimicking this number, but it makes no sense for them to tamp down the numbers, but it does for the establishment GOP. They don't want America to know that the Tea Party has taken over the GOP, although it's obvious to anyone who has paid attention, or add. In the Senate, 18 of the 45 GOP Senators, or 40%, are actually Tea Party members. In the House, 144 out of 234 GOP Representatives voted for default, meaning 60% are Tea Party members. The Tea Party may not be the majority party, but the vote Wednesday showed they are a powerful political minority party. They're so powerful, in fact, that in most places, they're pushing out the establishment GOP.  

Now, the saddest thing is that, after Wednesday night, in a large part of America, people won't vote for either the Democrat or the Tea Party. In the deep south, and in most rural mid-west and western areas in America, they either see no need for the government or truly hate it, and they'll never vote for Democrat. And since in those areas the Tea Party is ousting the establishment GOP, that means they'll vote for the Tea Party. But after Wednesday night, and the 16 day government shutdown, in almost all other areas in America, after what the Tea Party/GOP did, they won't vote for anyone but the Democratic Party. So while there may be 3 political parties, most only trust 1 to do what they think America needs. And that's really sad.    

GOP: Running the government is humiliating to us.

Want to know how far right the GOP has gone and how little they want a federal government? If you listen to them today, the fact that they are having to vote to simply run the government for 90 days at the budget numbers they want, not at the level Democrats want, is a humiliation. Really, GOP, this is what it has gotten down for you? You hate the government so much that simply doing what you're suppose to do and keep the government open, your basic job description and duty of the office, is a step down for you? What are you doing in politics then? Your basic belief is that the 50 states should run themselves, right? Then say it! Don't beat around the bush and say that there's things you like, and then try and shut everything down. If you're right and the country agrees with you, then stop trying to gerrymander districts and stop people from voting. If you think it's humiliating to run the government, imagine how the country feels about how you're leading us. Or, actually, not leading us.      

Today, I'm ashamed to be a veteran.

This afternoon, there was a protest in Washington billed as a million veteran march, and from what I've seen, read, and heard, this is a day I'm actually ashamed to be associated with vets.

The march today didn't show the full scale of what all veterans feel or think, but the fact that any vet would be part of a march where confederate flags would be flown is simply appalling to me. So vets, what part of the old confederacy do you want, the racism, the slavery, or the desire to secede from America, and which do you find appealing and want to have happen? If this is the way you feel, why did you fight for this country? Yes, there were vets from before the military became all-voluntary, many in fact. But why are you proud that you served a country that you don't believe in. Want to march without your veteran's hat and/or gear on, fine. I'll disagree with you, but it's your right. But stand up as a member of the military, even retired or just vet, and you must reflect the country. Letting people yell to a christian President to "Go home and read your Koran" is simply letting the haters and the racist win the day. Did you do that when you were in the military? Not like you did today, I'm sure.

Today, I was ashamed to be a veteran. Actually, I wasn't ashamed that I am a veteran, I was ashamed of all the veterans today that decided to show people that they hate America, and how I'm now painted with their broad brush. It was a sad day, both for vets and those who look to the military for a light on how people should treat each other. It's too bad that vets reflect America, the good and the bad. But the good wasn't on display today, only the bad.      

Let's give Boehner some credit.

While I have ripped the GOP no end, I actually do have to give Speaker John Boehner credit for one thing: He has seen that the GOP is now a far-right party, and as leader of the party, has moved to the right so he could keep his leadership position in the party. After all, it's tough to lead a group when they won't follow you. It's damn near impossible when they aren't even on the same path that you're on.

While those in Washington and on Wall Street have just came to realization that there's a schism in the GOP, Speaker Boehner came to the realization that there is no schism in the GOP any more, and moved to where the power in the party is now. He sees that while some think that there the GOP is trying to decide which way it wants to go in the future, in truth, the far-right fridge of the GOP in the mid 2000s is now the middle of the party and where the power is in the GOP. Like it or not, he's seen the way the wind is blowing in the GOP and moved to where the wind is now.

Some people believe that the Speaker of the House should work for the country, and in truth, the Speaker and all members of Congress should work for the good of the majority of Americans. But Speaker Boehner knows that he is the ranking member of the GOP, the one with the most governmental power, and he now has moved to reflect the belief that the majority of his party has now. It's not his fault that the GOP doesn't want to be a national party or govern anymore. He has just moved with the party, and for that Speaker Boehner has to be given some credit.    

Even in a crisis, GOP has to lie.

The GOP just can't help but lie, can they? Texas Senator John Cornyn got on national TV today and said that voting for a "clean" CR and a "clean" debt limit increase would be giving the President a "blank check." Senator, do you even know what a blank check is? Approving a CR would keep the government open, but it would have an over-all limit, and each department would also have a limit on what they could spend. A debt limit increase would have an amount they government could go into debt, but could go no farther. Is that really a blank check, Senator? No, of course not. A blank check says "Spend what you want, and you have no limit." Neither the CR or a debt limit increase says that. Really, Senator Cornyn, even in a time of crisis like this, do you and the rest of the GOP have to lie?

So what do you really want, Speaker?

Two months ago, Speaker Boehner said that there would be no reason for the government to shut down or not approve a new debt ceiling. Two weeks ago, he stated that the government might have to shut down so that the Affordable Care Act could be stopped, but that there was no reason not to increase the debt limit. A week ago, the Speaker told reporters that it was true that, in fact, the Affordable Care Act actually couldn't be stopped, and that the shutdown was actually about the growing federal budget. It didn't matter that in the 2014 budget, the Democrats went 90% of the way to the GOP number, and both sides agreed to that number. Then yesterday, the Speaker said that he refused to put to a vote either a clean CR or a clean debt increase bill. So Speaker, this really isn't about the Affordable Care Act, and it can'r be about the budget, since both Democrats and majority of the GOP agree on the size of the budget for next year. Now, would you please tell the American people what you and the GOP really want? Tell the American people what the actually end game of all this really is for the GOP. It's to get rid of the federal government, isn't it? Come on, Speaker, tell us the truth about what you really want.        

Does the GOP want to be a regional party?

As the government shutdown continues, there are a few in the GOP in the House that are saying enough is enough. Over a dozen GOP House members have said that they'll vote for a clean CR if it came up for a vote. Less than a dozen more, and the clean CR would come up for a vote. But why would a few Congressmen go against their party? Simply, these Congressmen are mainly from the northeast, although some are from the west and the mid-west, and they know that every day they agree to keep the government shutdown, they lose thousands voters. And these voters won't just not vote for them, but they won't vote for any GOP candidate for years. So, to them, the question is, do you stay with our party now and ensure the GOP becomes a regional party, or do they do what their constituents wants and stay relevant in politics?    

Every day the GOP keeps the government stays shutdown, the GOP is losing voters in the northeast, the west, and the mid-west, and Congressmen there can see it. So, is the GOP trying to be a regional party that can't win national elections, or is that just a bi-product of their stupidity?    

The GOP has their beer goggles on.

Listening to the GOP today, I swear they are just like a man late at night after a few drinks in a bar-- The GOP has their beer goggles on. To listen the GOP, they are fighting for those that elected them in 2010, the entire country agrees with them, and no one who disagrees with them knows anything about facts and figures, and feel the other side is ethically wrong and morally bankrupt. The Tea Party simply can't see the truth: The ACA was the central issue of the 2012 election, and they lost. They lost the Presidency, lost seats in the Senate, and although they held the house, 1.5 million more people voted for the Democrats than for the GOP. Also, so far, everything that the GOP has railed against in the ACA has been proven false. Insurance rates are going to be less for 98% of Americans under the ACA than they were before the law was enacted. There are no "Death Panels". And instead of blowing a whole in the budget, the ACA will actually save money. Finally, those that don't see the world as the same way as the Tea Party do simply see the world differently. There is no hole automatically in their heads, hearts, or souls.

Just like a man in a bar late at night after a few drinks, the GOP can't see the truth right in front of them, and can only see things the way they wish they were. The GOP has their beer goggles on. Too bad they'll still have them on in the morning.