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 Our Offspring FontanelPosted on Oct 17, 2007By Will Durst Oooh. He’s clever. And obviously knows exactly what he’s doing. This is all a setup, people. Has to be. Yes, I’m talking about George Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Who but a total stoned horned ogre would do that? Maybe an ogre with something up his sleeve, eh? Has anyone thought of that? I’m just waiting for him to drop the other shoe. Or throw it at a crippled puppy. Either way, there’s a hidden agenda in there somewhere. To intimate that it didn’t seem like his finest hour is akin to saying that sinking your IRA into tying live vampire bats to a horizontal stick and trying to sell them to the Fisher-Price people as above-crib mobiles is probably not your best retirement strategy. As public relations go, this was on the order of handing out celebratory exploding cigars near the oxygen tents of an intensive care ward. Does he seriously want us to believe he has no problem asking for another $190 billion for his oil war, but can’t find $7 billion a year for children’s health care? Are you kidding me? “No child left behind?” More like “no child left standing.” The man has opened himself up to charges of criminal child neglect. An Amber Alert featuring Air Force One should be triggered. Crazy? Like a fox. He scuttled the SCHIP hush-hush style. Like a cat burglar at night, in a closet, with the lights off, under a raincoat, wearing a ski mask and a fake ZZ Top beard. The legislation was intended to reduce the number of children without health insurance and extend coverage to several million more poor children. But the threat that some wrong kids might inadvertently receive coverage makes that totally unacceptable? Who believes that? Oh, we know the president’s public stance: He doesn’t want to slide down the slippery slope toward socialized medicine by expanding the program to higher-income families. But he’s not as dumb as he looks. Surely he knows when it comes to kids, America’s got a collective soft spot right at the top of our heads. Call it our offspring fontanel. That’s why this has to be a ruse. Accusing Democrats of authoring a plan that would hurt children ... that doesn’t even make sense. Here’s the deal: Since the prez is not up for re-election ever again, he’s in league with party leadership and they’re using this dodge in a drastic attempt for the GOP to hang on to the White House. Painting the Bush administration as so malevolent that in comparison all the ‘08 Republican candidates look like latter-day saints of Jesus Christ. You know what I mean. And we better hope this works, or the next public event is bound to be even more provocative. I can see it now: Bush emceeing an apple pie poisoning exhibition, right after a quick round of mom-slapping, held on the South Lawn by the light of a massive teddy bear bonfire with refreshments of barbecued pet parakeet skewers and goldfish shakes. The vote to override the SCHIP veto comes in a week or so, and it will be interesting to see if the Democrats can stir any movement from across the aisle using this issue as a crowbar the size of Idaho. Or if they’ll just roll over on their bellies and dare the president to keep throwing shoes at them. The gray matter beneath the soft spot in my head makes me suspect the latter. Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment
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Jump to Comments
By cheap cigarettes, June 24, 2008 at 5:00 am #
relax… his time is over. Now we have to make a right decision.
signature: I like to drink coffee and smoking cigarettes before bed. I dream faster. (c) Steven Wright: Coffee and cigarettes
Report thisBy rylly, October 19, 2007 at 5:59 pm #
Little George thinks everything is just a ball game, like when he was a cheerleader.
Report thisWIN WIN is all, no matter what the cause, beat down the opponent, be relevant while irrelevant, be a leader like Custer, only with Secret Service Protection and suffer nary a scratch.
Let em all go down, hes outa here.
Though the source of funding is WRONG, it should be BOOZE & VIAGRA, the 2 things leading the carnage. Have a drink, take a blue pill and VETO! Yea!!
By Jaki, October 19, 2007 at 5:20 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Hey, Voice of Truth…finally you wrote some:
“My wife always says Ill never have to worry about a heart attack, because I have no heart!”
Question: why is she still hanging out with you?
Must be money.
“It is really very simple.”
Report thisBy Suzanne, October 19, 2007 at 4:45 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I interpret this veto as a sop to the extreme right…
Report thissomething conservative candidates may point to in 2008. He is saying: Look, we can prevent domestic giveaways. Expect nothing from this president but more war and giveaways to corporations that arm wars.
By Jane Hinten, October 19, 2007 at 2:57 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Here’s a great idea: let’s take money from low income smokers and give it to middle income families, because they just can’t help having babies. Everybody knows having a baby is good, and smoking is bad, if not evil.
We need to punish bad people, and reward those who manage to accomplish the feat of what might possibly be the easiest thing two humans of the opposite sex can do, spread their genes. Who cares if it unduly and unfairly burdens a minority group. We live in fabulous America where the majority gets to do whatever it wants to the minority - that’s democracy in action.
Those democrats are really on the ball, they know a winner when they see it. They know when to hang up the poster of the poster child of children so the republicans will look really really bad, but not as bad as the smokers, that would be hitting below the belt.
But wait. what if all those nasty smokers can’t afford to smoke anymore? What if they, god forbid, quit smoking? Then who’s going to pay for all our babies’ measles vaccines and doctor bills?
Good cause. Bad karma.
(and no I’m not a smoker, just somebody who cares about what’s right)
Report thisBy voice of truth, October 19, 2007 at 2:56 pm #
“Some of us still give a damn about what happens to other people.”
That’s great. Some of us don’t, or are simply tired of people claiming victim status.
I still say, and as of yet no one has mentioned it (though most can’t wait to brand me as a whole host of things), whatever happened to personal responsibility???
Report thisBy William Ries, October 19, 2007 at 2:36 pm #
V.O.T. How about this idea?
Uncle Sam gives me all my tax money back because he uses it in a way I don’t support, to hell with the rest of you. Now don’t I sound like a Republican?
Some of us still give a damn about what happens to other people.
Report thisBy voice of truth, October 19, 2007 at 1:09 pm #
I love it. Now I am a racist? Call me an elitist, that’s fine. But racist? Get a clue.
As for the rest of the tripe spewed by Jaki. Why would a senior citizen have to choose between medicine or food? They have Medicare drug coverage. Not to mention 70 YEARS to plan for the rest of their life!! Why is that my problem?
And don’t accuse my family for having me. My parents, grandparents, are all very compassionate, just like you, especially with other people’s money!
My wife always says I’ll never have to worry about a heart attack, because I have no heart!
My real point is, where does personal responsibility ever enter your equations? Apparently never. Why the hell would someone get a pet if they did not know up front what the cost of keeping them would be?? Am I the only one who thinks that is ridiculous and irresponsible. How about going through your entire life and never saving a nickel??
Don’t give me the just trying to get by crap. Life is about needs and wants. Don’t confuse the two. If you do not have enough for your wants, then you better not neglect your needs. It is really very simple.
Report thisBy Jaki, October 19, 2007 at 10:07 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
#107819 by “voice of truth” (give me a break) on 10/17 at 1:53 pm
“A large majority of Americans do not, in fact, want universal healthcare.”
ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE MR. V.O.T. The majority of Americans (over 70%) IN FACT DO WANT UNIVERSAL SINGLE-PAYER (i.e., government-provided) HEALTHCARE, and NOT just a choice of insurance companies, like both parties are pushing. They want their tax dollars to support the REAL NEEDS of people not the grasping greed of corporations and people like you and the cigar-smoking MATT. Poor Matt. I can’t imagine how devastating it must be to you to have the “premium cigars” you need for survival go up in price.
Perhaps you should take the so-called Voice of Truth’s (could anything be further from it?) advice and make different choices. Like the senior citizens who must choose between food and medicine. Like those same people who must euthanize their comforting pets because they can no longer afford to feed them. Like single mothers who must choose between sacrificing their pay and taking a sick child to the doctor.
Anyone out there think of other examples? Surely there must be some.
More from V.O.T.:
“I agree wholeheartedly that you can not punish the children for being born into WORTHLESS (emphasis added by me) families…”
Anyone out there aware of the widening discrepancy between rich and poor since The Butthead became president? It is vaster and vaster.
Clearly V.O.T. came from a family totally devoid of compassion and I would be more inclined to call that the definition of “worthless.”
And more from the mouth of this idiot…
“I dont buy the argument that something is not affordable. Every day we have a myriad of choices on how to spend our earnings (after Uncle Sam takes his huge chunk). If health care is a priority, then you should spend your money on that, and not on cable TV. It really is very simple. Where are the priorities??”
Perhaps they are with invasion of other countries (the cost of which for one month could pay for health care for all in this country for a year)
in order to steal their resources and show we have the biggest dick on the planet.
Now those are real priorities.
Report thisBy Susan J. Hass, October 19, 2007 at 7:33 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Voice of Truth… Your comment is blatantly racist/elitist. Get out there among the poor and you will realize that not everyone can afford $1000+ per month for private health insurance; not everyone can afford to pay the thousands of dollars that the pharmaceutical companies charge for prescription drugs, and NOT everyone “wastes” their money on cable TV. (I’ll bet you have a few things YOU waste YOUR “obvious” money on, though). It’s folks like you who give America a bad name. If we can’t take care of our poor, none of us deserve to be wealthy!
Report thisBy GeorgiaBlue, October 19, 2007 at 7:06 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Let me get this straight..It’s ok to cut the taxes of the richest 1% of our population, to spend billions on a genocidal “war” perpetrated by lies, award Blackwater thugs billions and billions to Halliburton war-profiteers, but not insure our own children because some New Yorkers who make $50,000 didn’t need the money to save their son’s life??????? How does this moron sleep at night? Oh, yes, those without conscience sleep just fine while the rest of us stay up nights trying to figure out how to buy our next meal!
Report thisBy dale Headley, October 18, 2007 at 10:15 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Ohhh! Socialized medicine! Horrors!
Report thisBy Douglas Chalmers, October 17, 2007 at 3:00 pm #
Its a waste of time attempting to convolute your thinking into deciphering the mental function of a madman fronting for a bunch of recidivists (the Neocons)......
CHILDREN NOT WANTED!!! FUTURE NOT WANTED!!! ME, ME, ME!!!
Report thisBy voice of truth, October 17, 2007 at 1:53 pm #
A large majority of Americans do not, in fact, want “universal healthcare”.
I agree wholeheartedly that you can not punish the children for being born into worthless families. However, at what point does the State give so much that it might as well just take the kids?
I don’t buy the argument that something “is not affordable”. Every day we have a myriad of choices on how to spend our earnings (after Uncle Sam takes his huge chunk). If health care is a priority, then you should spend your money on that, and not on cable TV. It really is very simple. Where are the priorities??
Report thisBy Matt, October 17, 2007 at 1:28 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
While I’m not in favor of the veto as it affects children’s insurance, I think it should be made clear that the funding was to come mostly from imposing an obscene 53% tax on premium cigars (one of the few vices I can still afford). That’s right- 53%!!! It would have done some serious damage to that industry, and to me personally. Too bad he couldn’t take so of the “war chest” and apply it to something useful…
Report thisBy Christie, October 17, 2007 at 12:01 pm #
Mudwollow- It’s called satire. Durst knows what’s going on, he is a political comentator specializing in satire. It’s a big roll of the eyes at the audacity of the veto.
Report thisBy thomas billis, October 17, 2007 at 11:42 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
The Republicans have been screwing poor and middle class adults for so long they figured they would take a shot at the little adults just to stay in shape.They view these little adults as not full fledged American citizens yet.If you want health care do what the illegal immigrants do go to the emergency room.Only wealthy Republicans are full fledged American citizens at birth.Pull yourself up by bootiestraps until you attain full American citizenship.No healthcare until you join the military to fight for oil to make our benefactors rich.The Republican mantra is we worry about you before you are born,we worry about you when you are fighting for oil and in the middle screw you.
Report thisBy great_satan, October 17, 2007 at 9:24 am #
The Author might have apoint. Bush knows he’s poison for the GOP now, so he can actually support them by distancing himself, or giving them a dramatic reason to distance themselves…a few lesser overt issues, while keeping tight with the ‘common sense’ decisions of his ‘golden age’ after 9/11.
Report thisGood to keep an eye out for further use of such tactics.
By EvilleMike, October 17, 2007 at 9:15 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Actually, I’m beginning to think he really is that bad. Stop trying to give this guy more credit than he’s due.
Report thisBy steve, October 17, 2007 at 8:49 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
With all due respect for the author, I agree with Mudwollow. I am less interested right now in “hidden agendas” than I am with the fact that almost 7 million innocent kids are about to lose their health insurance through absolutely no fault of their own other than having the bad luck of being born into a family that cannot afford the rising price of health care in this country.
Report thisBy SamSnedegar, October 17, 2007 at 8:49 am #
I have no doubt that the Repugnants with fears of losing their seats will band together to override the veto, thereby saving their bacon by distancing themselves from the Bushitter gang of war-mongering thugs.
I was surprised however to hear McCain echo the White House line about “fiscal responsibility,” particularly since the money involved is supposed to be raised by increasing the cigarette tax. Maybe they are torpedoing McCain again; he ought to be feeling like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football with Lucy Bush holding it and pulling it away at the last moment.
There may be an even worse reason behind the veto: could be that for POPULAR bills with the public, he has to veto to protect the congresscritters and still keep the Dimocraps from being able to pass any domestic legislation at all—-thereby presenting the Repugnants with the “do-nothing” sobriquet for the Demoncrap controlled congress . . . never mind that 99% of the deadlocks were CAUSED by the GOP.
Report thisBy Conservative Yankee, October 17, 2007 at 7:55 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Political theater and grandstanding by both parties. IF the Democrats REALLY cared about “financially bereft children, They would fix the foster care systems (all fifty of them) level the playing field between wealthy and lower income school districts, and enact legislation mandating health care from mega-employers.
The Republicans may have horns, and be the meanest thing since the Grinch, BUT they are working for their constituents… Too bad the D party can’t do as much for their core supporters.
Report thisBy Mudwollow, October 17, 2007 at 7:37 am #
“Has anyone thought of that?” After almost 8 years, anyone not seeing the truly diabolical nature of the Bush Cheney regime is either in a coma or is Nancy Pelosi.
This may be some convoluted tactic cooked up by Karl Rove but who cares? It’s also perfectly in keeping with everything else George and Dick have done over the last eight years. Definitely not worth looking for some mysterious agenda when the upfront agendas are enough to put these reprobates behind bars for life.
Report thisBy Kevin, October 17, 2007 at 6:55 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Oh Durst…you silly silly man! Our Prez couldn’t be so underhanded, could he? In the end, you know Congress won’t override the Schip veto. They get their free insurance and certainly don’t think it would be fair for people to benefit from your taxes besides them.
Report thisBy mary, October 17, 2007 at 6:48 am #
Why do we allow this admin to treat our tax dollars like Corp profits, with bonuses for the elite at the top only. Sure this is leading to Universal Healthcare. It’s what most Americans want and we should have. Afterall, it’s our tax dollars isn’t it! Most Americans know we will have to pay for this. It’s not like we’re already paying out the nose for poor healthcare now. Let’s see how many Repugs try to block this one…...
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