I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

From a Republican perspective, that has all of the advantages of opening yourself up to primary attacks from the right, while also not accomplishing anything big.

Of course. The Rs need to do something big for their base to win the primaries, but find a way to do it without losing the general election. Rock, meet hard place.

I have zero sympathy.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

It's obviously not perfect, but it's not exploding. See this, for example:

http://www.npr.org/2017/03/27/521441...loding-its-not

I'm sure you can cite lots of article. There is a whole press-like industry built up to satisfy the need that conservatives have to believe and hear what you're saying.

It's part of why the Republicans can't engage on healthcare policy. Every time they try to engage reality, even in the form of a CBO scoring by a hand-picked conservative, it's like hitting a brick wall for them. They can't believe everything chicken little said on Fox/Breitbart/InfoWars isn't true (and those three channels are getting increasingly close together and closer to the InfoWars space).

Tom Cotton, surprisingly, is right. What the Rs need is a lengthy hearing process discuss healthcare issues the way the Dems did during ACA. They need their 100 days of hearings. And they need conservatives to deal with reality in those hearings and try to figure out a policy that deals with reality, and, most importantly, get their constituents to deal with reality so they don't all get primaried if they do something rational.

It won't happen, of course. That's not how they do things. Remember, the biggest news in Tom Cotton's statement was that he acknowledged that the Democrats had a lengthy, information filled process - even though the country lived through almost 18 months of it, the Rs never admitted it and their base still believes the bill was rushed through in the dead of night (even a lot of Bernie supports have bought this rubbish).

[ThurgreedMarshall]

[Losing my mind. Gotta remember where I left off after a quick vacation.]

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

It's also a lot of fun to say, "I like Trump. I think he's doing a great job," to Lefties at parties. It works like that line in Dylan's "Motorpsycho Nightmare," where he screams "I like Fidel Castro and his beard!" to piss off the crazy farmer.

I don't think you actually go to parties.

TM

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

I don't think you actually go to parties.

TM

My liver wishes you were correct.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

It's obviously not perfect, but it's not exploding. See this, for example:

http://www.npr.org/2017/03/27/521441...loding-its-not

I'm sure you can cite lots of article. There is a whole press-like industry built up to satisfy the need that conservatives have to believe and hear what you're saying.

There's no debate over the fact that many insurers have left, limiting plan choices, and that premiums are going up 25% this year.

You can cite the fact that this increase was anticipated, and suggest it's a one year thing. But if that rate of increase or anything close to it should become an annual thing... well, you do the compounding.

[ferrets_bueller]

Trump makes the best political decision of his Presidency:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.f185a5ef9f86

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

There's no debate over the fact that many insurers have left, limiting plan choices, and that premiums are going up 25% this year.

You can cite the fact that this increase was anticipated, and suggest it's a one year thing. But if that rate of increase or anything close to it should become an annual thing... well, you do the compounding.

Look, you can actually do the research, but there's pretty clear consensus that the cost curve has been bent and ACA has something to do with that. Here, we had the lowest increase in premium this year of any time in memory. If you are in the ACA individual market place, you probably have options you didn't have before: the individual market place was pretty thin before ACA. Anyone here have any experience with it, other than in a COBRA context?

Note also, first reaction to the failed Republican bill: Republican states looking to opt in to Medicare expansion. Something's working...

But it's pointless talking to you, of course. TM, stop me.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

TM, stop me.

Nah. It's actually fun watching someone who thinks their perception amounts to fact constantly run up against people who try to shake some actual reality into his head. It's never even a debate on opinion. He says "everyone knows and would mostly agree that X." You say, "uh...no. It's actually Y." He says something or cites to something that agrees with his outlook--not even his opinion. His outlook. And it's settled in his mind.

It's fascinating once you figure out that you shouldn't actually engage.

TM

[ThurgreedMarshall]

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer...id=full-rss-di

TM

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

Nah. It's actually fun watching someone who thinks their perception amounts to fact constantly run up against people who try to shake some actual reality into his head. It's never even a debate on opinion. He says "everyone knows and would mostly agree that X." You say, "uh...no. It's actually Y." He says something or cites to something that agrees with his outlook--not even his opinion. His outlook. And it's settled in his mind.

It's fascinating once you figure out that you shouldn't actually engage.

TM

Some mix of amusing and disturbing. You'd hope a lawyer would have more ability to listen and process critically information. A continual reminder of the power of the foxified news outlets and how they make people dumber.

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer...id=full-rss-di

TM

I know that there is nothing to this investigation, because Sebastian keeps telling me so, and I don't understand why he would lie. But if it were not for Sebastian's reassurances, I would think that the whole thing is beginning to seem a little bit Watergate-y.

The Daily Dose is by Black Sugar. A nice mellow guitar groove called "The Loser."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUJXlqpV9yE

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower

I know that there is nothing to this investigation, because Sebastian keeps telling me so, and I don't understand why he would lie. But if it were not for Sebastian's reassurances, I would think that the whole thing is beginning to seem a little bit Watergate-y.

I can't figure out Nunes for the life of me. Does he really think he isn't about to be thrown directly under the bus by the White House, every House Republican, and every prominent Republican senator? I mean, what are you doing, man? And how is it going to help you? You're fucking doomed.

TM

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

I can't figure out Nunes for the life of me. Does he really think he isn't about to be thrown directly under the bus by the White House, every House Republican, and every prominent Republican senator? I mean, what are you doing, man? And how is it going to help you? You're fucking doomed.

TM

It certainly seems like this will end his political career for the time being. Maybe he's been promised something for playing the patsy? A nice sinecure from Alfabank? A six month gig as Arnold's apprentice?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

Some mix of amusing and disturbing. You'd hope a lawyer would have more ability to listen and process critically information. A continual reminder of the power of the foxified news outlets and how they make people dumber.

Look, I see the ACA has bent the cost curve some, and it's provided options where certain people had none. No shit it has some good elements.

I'm still skeptical. We've an aging population. Subsidies can only do so much.

I also don't even watch Fox.