Night Guant—totally agree. One thing—if Olbermann & Co would heartily endorse public insurance for all that didnt rely on a psychopathic industry, I would be thrilled.

If there is a public option (and who knows what it would be), if the insurance industry approves of it, it will either be gutted by the industry, for providing them with real competition, or it will become expanded Medicaid, which may be better than nothing or may not be, depending on whether Dems grow som e cajones.

But all these hysterics would be so unnceceessary if the Dems, using their majority, would just advance either Medicare for All, or , less desirable, a very heavily regulated industry like they have in Japan or The Netherlands. Obama shouldve used his political capital , coming right out of th egate on this one. It is tied to all other parts of “why the middle class is disappearing” amd alot of the reason for the loss of housing—many took out equity loans to pay medical bills. (I was one of them—I had to!) It is The Number one cause of bankruptcy among the middle class.

So, rather than Stimulus or bailing out banks, lets give everybody something that they can live for. Not more into the poor pool.

Living on SSI, I would give 15% of my income (which is unbelievably small) to see evreyone covered. I would probably give my whole check to get off of Medicaid and into Medicare.

Yes and Olbermann Acknowledges his fortune and why it is so important that everyone else has access to it too regardless of their income. As do I. I would rather have my taxes go to that than a global empire we have been developing right now.

sorry my spelling has been so crappy—cant help it. My left hand is not for shit last week or so…

Night Guant—Only one point to be made here—Olbermann’s dad lived and was going to be ok. Thousands of people every year find out that their dad (or someone else they love) is not going to be ok or even treated. We all know why Olbermann’s dad is ok. I am certainly not sorry that he is. I just want everyone’s dad to get the treatment his dad did.

Here’s a fairytale about max Baucuss , who has just had his crappy plan renounced by AHIP (Death Insurance Plans)—“it” would “raise rates” (NO! THEY would raise rates! WHY is that never stated? Why dont they just SAY, “We will raise everyone’s rates!”) That wouldnt happen if the Senate had the cajones to regulate them. So far, only the House does, and barely.

Max BaucASS found a rattlesnacke who had been hit by a car. It was dying. He took it in, nursed it back to health , and when he went to set it free, it bit him. As he lay dying, he cried, out “Snake, how could you! I saved your life! I took care of you! How could you bite me!”

The snake replied, “You knew I was a snake you dumbass bitch!” (snake’s words..lol)

I think my assessment was correct about you whatever your political affiliation or lack thereof DaveZx3. Olbermann wasn’t “whining” so I don’t understand why you say it that way. Sounds callous to me. Characterizing a life or death institution like our medical system is very important. You didn’t address my thesis. Dying when you don’t have to. Do you think it is okay? Please enlighten us on that part you glossed over in your criticism?

Davezx3—I dont think you were misinterptrerted at all…I dont think you give a damn about whether anyone else needs to see a doctor or have treatment or not. Youre just self-righteous, having “found the truth”. Right…

Lawlessone—That is what make Dems more dangerous—people trust them. They will tell you that they feel your pain and do the same thing that the GOP would do.

samo/samo

Dave—People “overcome” their upbringing all of the time. You just dont know about it in your world—you “graduated” to what?? Please dont say Medicare…

I just do not understand how people can keep letting the media off the hook when it comes to health “reform”! They are supposedly the Fourth Estate! When Fox parrots GOP, MSNBC parrots Dems and CNN is “just Wolf”—what happens to our democracy (if it is one anymore). The airwaves are PUBLIC—we need better than PBS, now loaded with commercials. Someone needs to speak for the peopel who cannot speask for themsleves, for lack of a mic, money or health.

Only Kucinich, Conyers, WATERS, Amy Goodman and a few others are doing that. The MSM acts like those for single payer are “far left” , when, as everyone knows, every civilized country in the world has some form of it! It is NOT “radical”! Even Obama said he believed in it at one time. Olbermann did! But, fall in line, Democrats…

Olberman’s problem is trying to compete with Beck-(as david so enjoys)-are neo-liberals really just as assanine as neo-conservatives, so that the only way to get their message across is a neolibcon shout fest, plying emtions and wringing teaes?! This melodrama in place of news is poisonous—for the “left” (is there one?) and the “right” (is there one?)

Cmon people!! Lowered expectations are Clinton/Bush hangovers—drink some tomato juice and snap out of it.

Well DaveZx3 “we all die” but should we be forced to when there are means to stop it? You don’t seem to care are you a Republican or a Libertarian? You sound like one.

If it is a war of opportunity for a few to make money it has no limits and no discussion of costs. If a fraction of that can cover everybody and keep people alive to work and live there is much whoha over it. Now why is that? Do you see a pattern here DaveZx3? Does it bother you in the least? Is it live and let die for you? Pay you live and if you can’t its your fault and you die?

Where is the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without the former the latter two are non-existent.

There is something particularly galling about the facade of compassionate concern presented by the elected and their appointees on camera. But often the falsehood of their position becomes blatantly revealed in those not-so-rare, but surprisingly under reported moments of candor.
Recently an examination of Treasury Secretary Geithner’s phone records, revealed that he spends much time talking to Wall Street big shots Lloyd Blankfein and Jamie Diamond. Some might ask: is that not a conflict of interest, when the person in charge of the national treasury is good pals with the guys who run Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Chase?
But then we have the reassurance of Bush era Treasury Dept. spokesman Taylor Griffin, who defended Tim Geithner by saying: “There’s only so much time in the day, and you can only talk to so many people. You choose the people whose point of view you value.”
I would not be surprised if that attitude was prevalent at the White House and Congress during this so-called debate on health care “reform”. Amongst the movers and shakers, there was always time to accommodate the needs of the executives in the health insurance industry. But was there time in President Obama’s busy schedule to have a sit down with Dr. Sydney Wolfe of Public Citizen Health Group? I think you know the answer.
I noticed during Keith Olbermann’s turgid special comment, he did not mention how when House Speaker Pelosi announced that the public option was optional, suddenly like manna from heaven, United Health Care announced a fund raising get-together for her ($5000 for groups, $2500 for individuals). No, Mr. Olbermann being a good God-fearing Democrat, basically refuses to acknowledge the rotten venality that permeates their operations, which are quite similar to the tactics of the GOP.

I don’t have to wait anymore.  I have graduated from the Cadillac plan.  I have no problems.

just sickened by the whining of mature men, that somehow they need something and will cry till they get it, even if they have to take it from someone else. 

Not picking on Olbermann (just noticed he has two nn’s on the end of his name) he is product of his upbringing and can’t shake it, besides, he needs to keep his ratings up to compete with Beck.

Dave—I think that Olbermann is full of it but its easy for someone with a “cadillac” plan to say.

Why dont you just drop the damn thing? You will wait a very long time for ‘god”, like forever.

“Saving American Lives”  Olberman is offensive to me, and this is the first time I ever watched him on Countdown.  It seemed that he was almost crying that Americans might actually DIE.  That HE might someday actually DIE.  Get used to it Olberman.  We all DIE.

If you paid attention to hospital and doctor statistics, tens of thousands of people DIE each year BECAUSE of healthcare mistakes.  I could relate dozens of healthcare stupidities rendered by professionals just to me and my immediate family.  And we have one of those Cadillac plans. 

In my opinion, the healthcare system is run by mostly self-serving administrators who operate like any other corporation, with profit the pure motive and everything else secondary. Healthcare cannot save you.  You are going to die.  It is just a matter of when.  So be a man and quit whining about your mortality.

I am sure you have read that “it is appointed to men to die once, and then the judgement”.  Worry about the judgement if you want something to worry about.  You die pretty quickly, but judgement lasts forever.  In terms of forever, your life is but a second.  Worrying about it is a waste of time, and it is an offense to good men who have given their physical life so that you may live yours in comfort and freedom. 

Do old men talk about how long they were in the womb?  No, they don’t.  It became insignificant to them whether they were in the womb for 36 weeks or 40 weeks or whatever.  Not too long after you die, it will become insignificant to you whether you died at age 80 or 90 or 30 or whatever. 

Live you life with courage, honor and truth, and leave it up to God when you are going to Die.  And remember that avoiding hospitals and doctors can be very healthful, indeed, and there is no deductible.

I almost puked when he used the phrase “in the belly
of the beast”.  And some of those words he throws
around were pretentious in the extreme.  I would be
happier if he would throw around foreign phrases like
he knew what they meant.  It has been a battle
between Countdown and Maddow as to who can be the
most shrill and still get people to watch them.  It
shows what a sorry, sorry state the “liberal” media
is when they view Michael Moore as a liberal and
Obama as a Nobel winner. 

How about Chomsky,  -and single payer;  for christ
sakes…? We have really lost control and I don’t
think we will ever get it back again.  Thank god for
old age, poor medical care, and an early rest in the
grave…

beerdr—the “left” also seem to think that the elegance supercedes the lack of action.

Being eloquant can become a negative if you begin to use it to convince people that you are something that you are not or are planning to do things that you never intend to..

Lets start judging people by what they do, which is strange to even have to say…

Olbermann works for the neo-liberal version of Fox News. I tend to be very liberal, so it is not nearly as offensive to me as Fox (when I do watch it) They have covered Obama’s behind on Af-pak, “health care reform”, the uSA Patriot Act, etc and this was all quite awhile back, because I dont watch it anymore. I dont like being manipulated.

Olbermann didnt once mention how the Dem Party is almost solely to blame for this mess that has come to be called health care reform and many are going to die for it. Thats not ok with me.

Olbermann “covered” things, but seemingly through the lens of a middle class neo-liberal—which, ok, thats what he is. well, upper class, ok)But if he is dissatisified with how his father was treated and, his friend’s father (who has a farm to sell), did it not occur to him to perhaps consider how much worse it might be for those without his mic, his money and his clout? Without his insurance?

The plan being pushed by most at MSNBC—again, from what I have seen—I am not going to watch it every night again, will NOT “reform” the medical industrial complex and may actually make things worse for many. But, they have no power, so why bother to speak for them on a show like Olbermann’s?

Bill Maher’s show has been telling on this issue…there was a guy on a couple weeks ago—cant remember his name, he was billed as a “moderate”, who said, “
Why should they pass a bill that covers people who are not a voting bloc and have no voice?” Indeed. Last weewk, Maher himself, brought up the “public option” in his monologue and said, “But, you rich people dont care about he public option do you?” The answer was silence. Indeed.

KDelphi points out that the so-called left is not immune to the disease created by celebrity worship. Another thing to consider: does a President need to be a nice person to get necessary legislation passed? Lyndon Johnson got Medicare signed into law. Richard Nixon put in the Cost Of Living Allowance into Social Security. Where these men warm and friendly?
It has been noted that the GOP hated the social reforms enacted by FDR. So much so, that they worked in Ronald Reagan to finish the entire New Deal off, but that wasn’t accomplished by Ronnie, since he failed to privatize Social Security (i.e.; drive a bloody stake through its beating heart). But that vicious job continued on through Papa Bush, and then found an even more acceptable form in the “new kind of democrat” Bill Clinton.
Many have claimed that President signed the Commodities Futures Modernization Act, because he had no choice, legislatively speaking, which might be true considering his Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the Federal Board’s advocacy for the change that ended the protections of the Glass Steagall Act from rampant predatory capitalism.
But it was only recently that I learned that the Clinton Administration’s signing on to the World Trade Organization, repealed Glass-Steagall defacto, without even having to pass a law.
So how do Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama compare? Both are rhetorical masters of theater who are skilled at pulling the right strings and pushing the right buttons to maintain the illusion they are moderate populists, while simultaneously able to slip enough soap to the ownership class, so that they can keep the slippery ship afloat.

OK—I went and read the transcript.

I expect those that have the privilege of a microphone to stick up forsomething better than the duopoly status quo.

The “plan ” he supports does not cover everyone (not even close) does not bring down costs enough to make it work, when the obvious solution is just to expand Medicare to everyone. But, Keith looks at it like, this : Pretend that the public option is “like medicare for ALL” and it wont be so scary, but we know that it is not and thats ok..?? What do you think he is saying here?

“Just as “global warming” is really “bad climate change,” “The Public Option” is in broad essence “Medicare For Everybody.” Frame it that way, sell it that way, and suddenly it doesn’t sound like a threat, turning the seemingly solid insurance which people have now, into something “optional” and turning anything “private” into everything “public.”

Once you said “Medicare For Everybody,” there would be just as much to explain. If you were under 65 you’d be paying for it. You wouldn’t have to buy it. You wouldn’t have to change from whatever you have now. There are just as many caveats..”

A very , very broad essence. If everyone was in Medicare, you can be certain that it would not become an expanded Medicaid. If only those taht cannot get any better are there, that is exactly whart it will become.

I dont want the linguistics of medicare for all, I want…medicare for all.

Or perhaps a very heabvly regulated, (like a utility) system—the public plan provides neither. Does he not support a public plan? I dont get it.

Night Guant—I watched it last night. I may not remember it all,(cant download videos on this pc) but I remember the gist of it. The problem was not so much his talking about this father as it was the position he ended up supporting, which is basically the status quo, with the poor being put in the “public option” instead of Medicaid. It will become the “poor pool”—if we get it at all.

The only way that that might be good is that, if the middle class has to get the kind of care that Mediciad provides they will be up in arms to change it.

I dont know how anyone who supports Medicare for All (I dont know if you do) or even a heavily regulated market couldve been happy with that display.

All they have to do is expand Medicare—its not hard. Let people buy into it. If the media would support it, I think that they would do it. The politicians will give you what you will accept. If MANBC reflects the"left” that is what they will do.

And theyll be back at the table in 2010 with a GOP screaming about how it didnt work—because it wont. It leaves too much up to the insurance industry.
I resent passion plays. It makes me feel that they are telling me how to feel. But, I tuned in especially for this, hoping to hear how we had to have a non-insurance industry system. Olbermann disappointed again.

You must have the 5 minute Reader’s Digest version. He covered all those things and related it to his own family. I don’t know what you watched.

He got one thing right—it is about death—of 45,000 people a year who dont have a tv show to cry on.

Olbermann wasted what coudlve been a hour insisting that the uS catch up to the civilized world on health care…he wasted it on the “pubic option”.

thebeerdr is correct. Presenting HIS own case so thoroughly neglects the issues of people who have no such case to present at all—their parents die in the streets or in beds at home with no pain med that he praised so completley.

More melodroamatic bullshit from Olbermann….can I do a show now where I get to tell you the story of my dad who DIED because he couldnt get heh care that Keith’s dad did? Gimme an hour and I will wring your heart with the stories of people from parks, homeless shelters and the streets—Olbermann dosent know what he is talking about.

See, I get what you neo-liberals are sobbing about—the same thing that makes you sob over Obama—but its theater—you have to get that! I cried watching it—i get goosebumps listening to Obaam—but I CHECK MYSELF and realize that I am being PLAYED—if you guys dont do that you may end up the minority party again. I am probably more emotional than most—-but I will not let it rule my assesment of what is really happening here.

Remember the boy/girl you have pangs for in high school that ended up just hurting you and lying to you? Its like that…think of Obama as James Dean—rebel (sortve) in words only…

Keith Olberman favors single payer but it was cleared off by the “progressive” Obama before even coming to the table. One of many things, a litany that Olberman has given on what our president has sold us out on. Public option is the weak fall back. Something that Obama considers unimportant to the need to keep the status quo in operation. He just may get his secret wish.

Here’s a new angle on this health mess:

I’m getting somewhat concerned that this healthcare
bill giveaway to insurance companies is going to
increase pressure to roll back the human rights of
people in poor countries who are being mined and
harvested for their organs as a result of the
artificial financial pressures of our capitalist
model. 

As I listened to Keith talk about his father’s kidney
and kept wondering if it was brokered by some
Bensonhurst rabbi who had it smuggled into the
country and jacked up the $2000 he paid for it into a
$160,000 goldmine, so he could pay cash for another
Porsche to give to his teenage daughter upon her
return from summer indoctrination in Israel.

Yes ... saw that.  Unfortunate as it validates his behavior in AfPak and elsewhere.  Stupid choice.

We have, unfortunately, become enamored to “compromise” as the way to solve problems.  This enables our politicians to craft legislation that rewards those with money at the expense of us simple voters.  Health care is not a compromise but an imperative.  We really need to step back and rethink the whole equation.  Insurance reform doesn’t address the million other problems in the health delivery system.  Insurance reform will not reduce costs all that much (other than perhaps remove the 30% overhead and profits private insurance companies take from the system).  There are so many other fingers in the pie that need to be slapped and driven away.  But, because of compromise, we will not get the real reform needed.  At best, just a temporary rollback of the ever escalating costs and decreasing quality we have all come to expect.  At worst, the rate of rape will increase when “reform” passes and the insurance cartel gets its hands on the 45 million uninsured who will be forced to buy the crappy products they offer.  The mandate in the senate bill is clearly unconstitutional but SCOTUS will not overturn with their current crop of right-wing justices.  And, quite frankly, the “public option” is not the way to go as what is being offered is so weak it will not do nothing other than become a dumping ground for those who have been rejected by private companies.  And it will be extremely expensive.

Totally off topic, but worthy of note, it just been announced that President Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Many here seem to misunderstand my somewhat cryptic comments.For Robertin Westbury, the smartypants remark is just something I read in a Rachel Maddow biographical profile, it was used in no way to denigrate her outstanding reporting on many subjects that other so-called “smart people” tend to ignore. And I am sorry Sharonsj, but I DO have more than a clue: having witnessed my own brother and his wife driven into bankruptcy for hospital bills they could not reimburse, even if they both worked full time for a hundred years.
But like most of the intelligentsia who advocate for much needed reform… but no, that it not the right word, reform implies that this system is somehow worth saving… Mr. Olbermann uses the verbal models and methods that he knows, which includes not only Edward R Morrow, but also the radio comedy team of Bob & Ray, and presents a well thought out, but ultimately moderate advocacy for the Obama-lite agenda, where the ambiguous term “public option”, which Keith himself pointed out, is presented as a vitally necessary part of this insurance industry give away, which the mean old Republicans (when were they ever not?) stand in the way of implementing.
Instead of all the philosophical stuff, I would prefer a more direct example of why a National Health Care system is needed, not some jive ass public option, which keeps the bastards who make 57thousand K an hour still firmly in place.
One of the best examples I can think of, is the house painter who tells Studs Terkel, in his book, THE GREAT DIVIDE: Second Thoughts On The American Dream, that “if I break my leg, I lose my house.”
While the celebrity obsessed big time media, concerns itself with obesity, plastic surgery and life threatening conditions, there are people in this country who not only are virtually, but actually, serve as witnesses to their own established lives being wiped out, because something that is needed to be repaired medically, becomes a convenient portal for these parasitical entities to suck away every damn dollar possible.
Simple things, like accidents and other unforeseen events destroy peoples lives in this country, just so these rotten pimps who act as purveyors of government-corporate services, can receive their wholly unjustified executive compensations.
Perhaps I was mistaken, but I thought that this Truthdig site was suppose to “drill beneath the headlines”. But it appears that many accept this supposedly reasonable, but absolutely putrid legislation now being put forward by the elected officials, as “the best we can do”.

One of the better hours of television I’ve experienced in quite a while. A story real in experience and related with the compassion for those who don’t have. Not flaunted in one’s face but you know Mr. Olberman just gets it and wants to help.

Bravo!, Keith your awesome!  That was a great speech.  And the protest of sorts your launching is a great followup idea for some real action.  It is a shame that President Obama whom we and you misplaced so much “faith” in would not provide such leadership and has positioned himself to be a profiteering tool for the very corporations you rightfully railed against.  His performance is outright shameful.  I would like to see the man pulled away from his handlers and forced to sit down for 45 minutes and listen to your clearly presented case and have an opportunity to experience the shame and guilt he rightly deserves to experience.  I am afraid however that there really is no “meaningful health care” on the table due to Obama’s lack of commitment to the people, or more accurately his commitment to the corporate structure and he has in deliberate premeditation managed to f*ck up any shot at truly serious meaningful reform.  Unfortunately, I feel as if we are in a position of being forced to let this slide and give up the needed deaths so that we can retool and go at meaningful reform down the road.

Keith,

Beautiful. Poignant. 

I particularly liked your semantic point about “the public option.”  Somewhere I read only 31% of people in a survey understood what public option means. 

Chalk another one up for the Republicans, and take a point from the dunderhead Democrats.

It bears stating of course the role the media plays in this confusion.  They publish and air the words “public option” without explaining what they mean, because they want to be objective of course. And if one side’s goal is to confuse the issue, then the only objective thing to do is confuse the issue for both sides. Bravo!

As for the dunderhead Democrats, hopefully they will take your advise and starts using the terms “Medicare for All.”  At least then the average American will have an inkling of what the debate is about. 

Good luck to you, Keith.  And thank you.

And being smart is bad, why? We need more of them both in fiction and reality to show that having an intellect and using it is a positive thing. Not a negative attribute.

With half wits like Glenn Beck giving autodidacts (like myself) a bad image and the crying on cue to lessen the effects of when it happens for real like with Olberman. We see how the cheap and tawdry can stain the expensive and good quality.

I am glad Mr. Olberman took all his time for this very important subject. Life or death, profit or healing. Which will we have in this country? I vote for life and healing over profit. So does he. How do you vote? Not just for yourself, but for everyone.

It was a brilliant speech, bringing up very important points….  Very much enjoyed it, but I have to agree with thebeerdoctor that most of those who need to see this speech most will not.  They are tuning in to Fix news…

Where I disagree with Mr. Beerdoctor is the idea that Rachel Maddow is a smartypants.  She does her homework and is the best anchor on the tube today.

I am a Chartered Life Underwriter.  To my knowledge, no one can buy life insurance on anyone else legally unless they have an insurable interest in the insured and permission from the insured (the insured has to sign the application).  And any significant amount of coverage requires underwriting (i.e., an insurance exam).  One exception to this is that a parent or guardian can buy life insurance on their minor children.

And I don’t agree with Obermann that this is just about death or the fear of death.  It is more about the right to live with dignity.  Our system might save you from death but at the same time relegate you to permanent debt peonage.  That’s no way to live or run a country that bills itself as the richest country on earth.

We’ve lost our democracy.  That’s what we are really afraid of admitting.  No one knows what to do to get it back.  But that’s the issue.

If you are interested in getting it back, one thing you should do in preparation, is read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It might give you some insight on what you should strive for.

http://www.gpln.com

re: C.Curtis,Dillon

Yes I did watch it. My sarcasm is not a knee jerk reaction, just vented frustration over the fact that much of Mr. Olbermann’s analysis is true, but the people who should be checking it out, never will. In some ways Keith’s special comments remind me of the “free speech zones” designated at national conventions… alleged proof that corporations (in this case Microsoft and General Electric) allow for dissenting views.
Rave on Mr. Olbermann, just never forget who ultimately signs your pay check. He probably sees his mission through an Edward R Morrow prism, shining journalistic light upon the news cycle darkness; but then again, I would not be surprised if right wing jesters such as Beck, Limbaugh and Hannity do not think of themselves in similar fashion.

I’m just curious, did you bother to watch it?  Or is this just another knee-jerk reaction?

What is this lecture? Is this where Keith Olbermann replaces Rachel Maddow as cable TV’s Number 1 smartypants?
As Omar the tent maker once said: “There was a door to which I found no key. There was a veil through which I could not see.”