Keith was amazing on this special comment. It was powerful, poignant and maddening. He nailed it on the insurance companies and he did it from the perspective of someone who is actually dealing with it in real time. I wish this could be aired on all networks (including Fox) because he is dealing with something that all Americans are or will be dealing with at some point.
The story about his Dad was heart breaking. That is everyone’s nightmare to have a parent go through something like that.
I’m in the middle of a chat on Facebook with a friend in UK about the appalling healthcare situation here. UK isn’t perfect (nothing is) but NHS is spectacular compared to here in the USA.
KO was brilliant. I would have been harsher, but that’s just me.
I want to add to my comment above that I think it is a shame that our Congressmen/women and Senators can’t put together a similar argument to their constituents. All they do is pander and hemm and haww, even the ones who are for the reform. Politics really should be set aside in this issue.
I’m glad KO is laying it out for all to understand, I wish more shows would. Unfortunately, he is probably preaching to the converted. Great show, nonetheless.
I was also hit hard by KO mentioning his childhood friend, whom he met in the emergency room. Friend’s daughter was in ICU for Lyme Disease and said he had to sell his farm the next day. How will that daughter feel later in life that her illness took away the family home and business?
very sad
It was a very moving and informative show. It is so soon after losing his mother, now he must deal with the fact of his father not being with him much longer.
I understand your anger and frustration Justa – my husband is dealing with it daily. As the plant manager, he has laid off nearly 300 people since the first of the year and all that are left are himself and 6 others who are doing all they can to try to keep the company afloat. His sadness is that daily he is signing off on Food Stamp applications for those without jobs. So many of them have children and he’s well aware that if they are bringing in so little from unemployment (some don’t even qualify), that they have to apply for food stamps, they certainly can’t afford insurance.
I wish there would be the free clinics pop up everywhere – especially in those locations he mentioned. We would certainly make a cash donation. Now I’m going over to the MSNBC site and see if I can find a donor link.
Sleep well – tomorrow will have some good news…….we’ll just have to look for it, eh?
Here’s a link to the National Association of Free Clinics that Keith referenced toward the end. If you can, make a contribution so that there can be free clinics in six key states to show those Blue Dogs their own back yards.
How many die tonight because of the corporate run “for profit health care system” and insurers?
The politicians throw money at wars like they are at a horse race or a banker on Wall Street. Wasted money… there is no way to win hearts when you are killing your own citizens, denying them affordable health care and jobs.
The Republicans had absolutely no problem running up a multi-trillion dollar deficits under Reagan and both Bush’s for the war industry or sending trillions to wealthy speculators on Wall Street.
Now they want to pretend, health care for our children, parents, and siblings has to be a deficit reducing package.
That was a right on the money, special comment. It was honest and truthful. Hopefully, people(right-wing and extremist and those Blue Dogs) will listen to it for themselves and not allow the Fox station to deliver the speech for them. The information will be taken out of context and full of lies.
I have no words. KO’s heart was right out there for all to see tonight. Nobody could have said it better. Please publish the link to donate when the plan for the free clinics gets going.
Totally moving. I plan to donate but think I want to wait until Keith’s program to do it, in those locations he mentioned, is triggered. While people will be helped, it may provide some awareness as to the need & poverty in those fence sitter (perhaps corrupt) politicians’ own backyards.
I sat there spellbound. I was expecting the usual format of talking heads, experts, etc. Instead it was just Keith. How powerful that was, to hear someone so obviously committed.
I just saw KO in the overnight rerun… very powerful commentary.
I had been wondering why he was taking so much time off. Now we all know – it was so that he could see the atrocities up close and personal. How sad.
It truly is outrageous that we have the skills, technology, knowledge, and medicines to save lives and alleviate pain, yet they are only available to those who “have” and not those who “have not”.
It is a basic human right to be released from unnecessary pain and suffering. Sure, our mortgages can be called in if we don’t have homeowner’s insurance and our licenses revoked without auto insurance, but folks don’t seem to care that LIVES are called in and revoked for lack of health insurance.
It’s insane that insuring our property is LAW, but insuring our health at a reasonable price is not.
I saw most of KO when it was on earlier, but missed the first ten minutes. So, AKM, thanks for the link.
I think this was probably the best thing I have ever seen him do. It’s sad that it was so good because it is so personal. But maybe that’s what it will take to get through to some who are sitting on the fence about health care reform.
i thought he was powerful, but i suspect that the lawmakers who needed to hear his words were not listening. his will be classified as a typical liberal sob story. those who think national health care is a moral issue are already convinced. those who think otherwise will not be swayed.
Keith explained healthcare reform clearly and passionately. Bravo!
His recommendation of donating to the free clinics in Little Rock, Baton Rouge, Las Vegas, Lincoln Nebraska, and Butte Montana is a brilliant strategy that he knows will make a powerful visual statement on television.
The senators that are blocking reform will look like the bought lackeys of the insurance companies they are, when the poor of their districts line up for basic healthcare. It is one thing to argue from a theoretical position and another to see a human in pain and need and say there is money for war in Afghanistan, but none for your medical prescription.
Yes, I’m afraid KO was preaching to the choir; most of his viewers already agree with him. I doubt his impassioned plea will touch the opposition.
John Kenneth Galbraith said it best:
“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.”
@10 deinandra
His best comment was “we choose life”. It shows up the hypocrisy of the pro-lifers.
*********
It also shows up the hypocrisy of the politicians claiming to be Christians. They choose to take blood money from the insurance corporations all the while lying that people don’t really want single payer or a po.
Keith shows more humility and love in his special comment for his fellow man than any politician or so called Christian publicly speaking out there.
No one with a conscience could help but be moved and realize he has told the truth to politicians, but will they have the compassion to make meaningful healthcare reform? Will they fiddle while Rome burns, salving their consciences with lies and keep taking the bribes from the health insurance and big pharma? Only they can answer that question.
I was on the phone with my mum in Australia over the weekend and I told her that I just had to pay $805 for a bloodtest because my sky high deductible on my BCBS insurance plan (from my job) had not been met. She was stunned.
When I was growing up in Sydney – my mum would have us at the doctor regularly and sometimes that included bloodtests. At no time did she have to pay anything for the tests.
My mum also works in a health insurance company in Australia. She’s worked there as a customer service rep in one of the branch offices for over 15 years. She told me that her company, under law, is not allowed to be listed on the stock exchange and operates as a not-for-profit. Her company provides very good care for its members. Because the focus is healthcare – not the bottom line.
We were fortunate, through my mother’s employment, to have both private and public healthcare when I lived in Sydney. Until I turned 21 and started paying for my own coverage, my sister and I were under my parent’s policy.
My sister has juvenile diabetes. My father has a family history of colon cancer, he also has high blood pressure and survived cerebral hemorrhage in his 30′s. My mother has osteoarthritis in both knees. All of them have received excellent healthcare paid for either thru Medicare (public) or private insurance. Their out of pocket costs are minimal. They have never been excluded due to pre-existing conditions.
2 years ago, my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer that required removal of the prostate and a course of radiotherapy. He was under treatment for over 2 months. My parents have not had to file for bankruptcy. Nor have they had to empty out their savings account to pay for the medical bills. My father received excellent care before, during and after his diagnosis and surgery.
My sister just bought a house – she has also not had to drain her savings because of medical bills for her condition. She injects herself with insulin 4 times a day, sees a nutrition specialist regularly, a diabetes specialist plus an opthalmologist every 3 months.
I’m happy that my family is taken care of under the healthcare system in Australia. I would never allow them to live here in the US with me. That would be disaster for them. They would be broke within years. Or worse.
Posted this on open thread. Hopefully, we can gain some traction with this public option. The holidays are coming up and I hate to see anymore delays in the public option. We all need this option. Even the extremist, who claim to not want the government involvement.
This is a link to sign a petition to have the Dems who vote with the Repubs to filibuster the public option will be stripped of their Chairmanship. Raquel Maddows had this on her show. Needs support for the petition. Harry Reid, initiated the decision. The Dems need to act like true Dems.
This is a great video. I watched it last night, but did not have time to comment.
This is your very best work Mr Olberman, It is a classic. Thank you for doing this, and I wish you and your family, especially your father, well.
I know exactly how he feels!!! I pray he gets ‘organized’ to start these free clinic’s in the states he wishes…the one’s whose reps are making the biggest noise…the most opposed. The other side needs to understand that it’s not how their idiot’s are presenting it to them. It is all about wanting to live!
God Bless You, Keith Olbermann! and your Father too!
‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’
Notice and remember, the FIRST right listed is LIFE! If the founding fathers thought it important enough to list, who are we or any politician to argue sensibility? Choose life. Without it, there is no other choice to contemplate!
Sixteen years ago when my father passed away from colon cancer, before he died the dr took my step-mom and I into his office and explained what was happening, what to expect and gave us options.
We chose keeping him comfortable and pain free till the very end, and made his passing very easy for him.
That was our “death panel”…and I thank GOD for that talk every day since my father’s death as it gave us peace in knowing that the dr. cared enough to want my father to not suffer.
I also thank GOD that my step-mother had the best insurance at that time through her job at General Motors, (that paid everything) otherwise for the 5 years my father went from surgery after surgery, chemo after radiation and dr after dr, they would have had to sell their home, drain their savings and then when my father passed away buried like a pauper, my step mom would have had to go into low income housing.
But, as it stands now, at her age of 83, she may still have to sell her home because, GM, as of January will be canceling her insurance after 40 plus years and is told to find something new.
How does she do that with the pre-existing conditions she now has, unless this new bill passes and gives her the quality of life she has lived so far?
Medicare only covers so much and you need more insurance, what does she do?
Every Senator who apposes this bill or one like it, should live for 90 days without the insurance they have and live like the elderly and see how they manage to get their meds when they are told you have exceeded the allowance..and try to pay for it themselves.
It happened to my daughter with her seizure meds and we did not have the $385 it cost to get them for a month and that was on medicade..we were lucky because they made a one time allowance after we argued for over an hour on the phone. If they had not done that, she could have died with her seizures.
So sorry to ramble, KO just made it all come back and as I sat here with tears I had to say something.
it was a stunning show. I have only just been able to get MSNBC and am now a huge fan of both Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow.
I suppose he was preaching to the choir, but I hope it somehow gets around to others who are on the fence. It was so well done that they would have to see the necessity of health care reform.
There are cries on HuffPost to put the program up on NBC in prime time or even on Sunday after all the talking head shows. Not a bad idea!
My post at #30 was in agreement with KO’s statement, just to clarify. I want healthcare, i.e. LIFE, for ALL of us, regardless of our political preferences or economic situation. Living in FL (for now) I think a public referendum would be good to make the members of the FL House and Senate PAY for their health care… make that ALL states and US House and Senate as well. Let them put their money where their mouth is! And I will keep a keen eye on those 6 states and reps Keith mentioned.
Keith was right on point with last night’s commentry on health care reform. How do I find out if there will be a drive (central collecttion effort) set up and indorsed by Olberman so we the know the entire proceeds will go toward funding the free clinic. If so please have Keith annouce the official collecting agent on his next several programs. I am of limited resources but would like to help to further this cause.
KO did a great job in putting the shame on those that deserve it. I hope they are listening.
This is a very raw subject for me; I lost my father to colon cancer August 16, 2009. The last year of his life was torture. That is what happens to people like my father who chose to leave his corp. sales job to teach in public school so he would be home for his family and children.
I am still fighting with the credit card companies to cancel cards he has not used in years but are still charging monthly fees. I was his POA and executor of his estate, not that he had anything left. And, knowing that my father and my family are just one of millions makes me feel that much worse. No one will be young and healthy forever.
Bev, check your Step-mother’s current policy and a proposed policy. If you get a new policy within 60 days, I think, you are considered continuously covered and the pre-existing don’t factor in. We just recently shifted from my husband’s medical which was awful to mine through Public Employees. Our pre-existing conditions weren’t a problem because we avoided a gap in coverage. Also talk to Medicare. There is a choice period coming up the end of the year where you can change your medigap insurance. Good Luck! I know the sense of panic when you think a loved senior will be without medical insurance.
I am still fighting with the credit card companies to cancel cards he has not used in years but are still charging monthly fees. I was his POA and executor of his estate, not that he had anything left. And, knowing that my father and my family are just one of millions makes me feel that much worse. No one will be young and healthy forever.
=======
BBH, my advice to you is to write a letter documenting the BS from the credit card cos/banks, address it to the CEO of the company, demand the monthly fees as a refund in 10 days. Get a list of the Equity Analysts that cover the companies (PM me if you need help with this) and attach this to the letter. I’d also put Tim Geithner’s name on the cc list, Elizabeth Warren, Barney Frank and President Obama’s as well. Call the company headquarters, get the fax number for the CEOs office and FAX the letter and the attachments, providing your phone number.
This will get someone from the CEOs office on the phone with you right away because you are threatening to expose their BS to the investors, so you should get resolution with a refund since they have been dragging it on for so long.
Thank you for the advice. I will try it and hope I get somewhere this time. I am just so tired of all their bs.
Believe or not I worked in the financial industry for years, before regulations were apparently dropped. Some people in that industry have become so warped by greed it is unbelievable, but I have to believe there are some good people still out there.
Keith did a great job but it’s frustrating that most people who needed to hear his message won’t see the show. If the free clinics in the states mentioned are covered by the news that is at least an effort, I just fear it’s all too little too late. It is a fact that people are not only suffering but dying every day because of lack of health care w/or without insurance. My family included, save for my grandkids which we make sure are on medicaid.
Wow….that made me cry. I really do wish that would be required viewing by all the teabaggers. They might actually see the truth of the situation, that we are fighting for them and the Republicans are fighting against them.
Good comments on Olbermann’s special last night. I thought he hit a home run. Outstanding. But like any good thing I guess there are those who don’t see eye to eye with me. A real downer came when I listened to Randi’s anti Olbermann’s ranting today. I was displeased. So much so I decided to let KUDO 1080 know about it.
“If you want to take Randi Rhodes off that prime time of day spot it is okay with me. Her logic is beginning to open up a lot of question. i.e. I like Letterman too, but her wild defense of him having sex with subordinate female office staff and stating it was simple dating was moronic. Today, 10/8/09, was the straw, she is flat wrong about Keith Olbermann’s health care reform defense last night. If I didn’t know better I would have thought her slanted diatribe and position against his delivery came from a mental midget.
Wearing a KUDO 1080 bumper sticker and having to tell folks to not tune her in is wearing thin. Get her onto the one in the morning time slot”.
Whew, Terps posting in after a long break. Been reading Mudflats but not posting, been so busy with school (when the economy gets tough, the tough go to … community college?)
Anyway, to get this heading towards on topic (which it will be), I’ve also been working to get my office space cleared for new equipment for my music recordings, and bought some nice studio monitors.
Last Monday I bought a new iMac.
Last night Mr. Terps and I watched KO off the new computer with the sound through the studio monitor – - – - I don’t know what y’all are listening to him on, but it is voice that is what does it. And to hear that booming bass/baritone deliver that particular message last night … well, all I could say to my husband was “wow”. That was sheer intensity. I’ll take that over any of those ‘reality’ shows any day. Someone speaking passionately and well about relevant subjects. Darn tootin’ I agree it should receive a wider audience.
I was just going to add “.. whether you agree or disagree with him” but really, what in there could any rational person NOT agree with? Seriously. That is a real question. I really would like to see what people’s objections are to KO’s Special Comment comments last night and how they defend them.
Medicaid and Medicare are still the best programs around though they need reform (ex. $ wasted in unecessary testing and records are a disaster). Reform must be done on existing Gov programs PLUS private insurance companies. With a Public Option it would force the the private ins. companies to reform to compete. What is it that the public/people don’t understand? It means we as a people have a choice. Why is good health ins. only available to a few?
I can’t afford what I’m paying and it doesn’t cover anything except for dying sooner in a frigging hospital. Paying more for pre-existing conditions is not an option whether or not you can work your butt off and still don’t have the money. We are suffering, can’t afford higher premiums, I am sorry we are going through hell like so many others.
Keith’s special comment made the tears flow for me. He nailed it as far as I am concerned. I know it seemed like he was preaching to the choir, but I also had the realization that it was directed at the tbaggers and repugs who only hear the fear. I hope the video spreads far and wide on the net and gets the exposure it deserves. I will also support his call to action.
Godspeed Mr. Olbermann…
Keith was amazing on this special comment. It was powerful, poignant and maddening. He nailed it on the insurance companies and he did it from the perspective of someone who is actually dealing with it in real time. I wish this could be aired on all networks (including Fox) because he is dealing with something that all Americans are or will be dealing with at some point.
The story about his Dad was heart breaking. That is everyone’s nightmare to have a parent go through something like that.
Bravo Keith!
I’m in the middle of a chat on Facebook with a friend in UK about the appalling healthcare situation here. UK isn’t perfect (nothing is) but NHS is spectacular compared to here in the USA.
KO was brilliant. I would have been harsher, but that’s just me.
I want to add to my comment above that I think it is a shame that our Congressmen/women and Senators can’t put together a similar argument to their constituents. All they do is pander and hemm and haww, even the ones who are for the reform. Politics really should be set aside in this issue.
ok…I’m done.
I’m glad KO is laying it out for all to understand, I wish more shows would. Unfortunately, he is probably preaching to the converted. Great show, nonetheless.
I was also hit hard by KO mentioning his childhood friend, whom he met in the emergency room. Friend’s daughter was in ICU for Lyme Disease and said he had to sell his farm the next day. How will that daughter feel later in life that her illness took away the family home and business?
very sad
So justa, they lost not only their home but their livelihood also. Multiply that by many thousands- it is so sad.
boodog, I agree.
But it’s more than sad, it’s outrageous.
I need to get to bed but I’m getting angrier and angrier
It was a very moving and informative show. It is so soon after losing his mother, now he must deal with the fact of his father not being with him much longer.
I understand your anger and frustration Justa – my husband is dealing with it daily. As the plant manager, he has laid off nearly 300 people since the first of the year and all that are left are himself and 6 others who are doing all they can to try to keep the company afloat. His sadness is that daily he is signing off on Food Stamp applications for those without jobs. So many of them have children and he’s well aware that if they are bringing in so little from unemployment (some don’t even qualify), that they have to apply for food stamps, they certainly can’t afford insurance.
I wish there would be the free clinics pop up everywhere – especially in those locations he mentioned. We would certainly make a cash donation. Now I’m going over to the MSNBC site and see if I can find a donor link.
Sleep well – tomorrow will have some good news…….we’ll just have to look for it, eh?
His best comment was “we choose life”. It shows up the hypocrisy of the pro-lifers.
Here’s a link to the National Association of Free Clinics that Keith referenced toward the end. If you can, make a contribution so that there can be free clinics in six key states to show those Blue Dogs their own back yards.
http://www.freeclinics.us/
How many die tonight because of the corporate run “for profit health care system” and insurers?
The politicians throw money at wars like they are at a horse race or a banker on Wall Street. Wasted money… there is no way to win hearts when you are killing your own citizens, denying them affordable health care and jobs.
The Republicans had absolutely no problem running up a multi-trillion dollar deficits under Reagan and both Bush’s for the war industry or sending trillions to wealthy speculators on Wall Street.
Now they want to pretend, health care for our children, parents, and siblings has to be a deficit reducing package.
The epitome of greed… pure, unbridled, lunacy.
That was a right on the money, special comment. It was honest and truthful. Hopefully, people(right-wing and extremist and those Blue Dogs) will listen to it for themselves and not allow the Fox station to deliver the speech for them. The information will be taken out of context and full of lies.
Bravo for Keith!!!
I have no words. KO’s heart was right out there for all to see tonight. Nobody could have said it better. Please publish the link to donate when the plan for the free clinics gets going.
Totally moving. I plan to donate but think I want to wait until Keith’s program to do it, in those locations he mentioned, is triggered. While people will be helped, it may provide some awareness as to the need & poverty in those fence sitter (perhaps corrupt) politicians’ own backyards.
Well done Keith!
I sat there spellbound. I was expecting the usual format of talking heads, experts, etc. Instead it was just Keith. How powerful that was, to hear someone so obviously committed.
I just saw KO in the overnight rerun… very powerful commentary.
I had been wondering why he was taking so much time off. Now we all know – it was so that he could see the atrocities up close and personal. How sad.
It truly is outrageous that we have the skills, technology, knowledge, and medicines to save lives and alleviate pain, yet they are only available to those who “have” and not those who “have not”.
It is a basic human right to be released from unnecessary pain and suffering. Sure, our mortgages can be called in if we don’t have homeowner’s insurance and our licenses revoked without auto insurance, but folks don’t seem to care that LIVES are called in and revoked for lack of health insurance.
It’s insane that insuring our property is LAW, but insuring our health at a reasonable price is not.
I saw most of KO when it was on earlier, but missed the first ten minutes. So, AKM, thanks for the link.
I think this was probably the best thing I have ever seen him do. It’s sad that it was so good because it is so personal. But maybe that’s what it will take to get through to some who are sitting on the fence about health care reform.
i thought he was powerful, but i suspect that the lawmakers who needed to hear his words were not listening. his will be classified as a typical liberal sob story. those who think national health care is a moral issue are already convinced. those who think otherwise will not be swayed.
Keith explained healthcare reform clearly and passionately. Bravo!
His recommendation of donating to the free clinics in Little Rock, Baton Rouge, Las Vegas, Lincoln Nebraska, and Butte Montana is a brilliant strategy that he knows will make a powerful visual statement on television.
The senators that are blocking reform will look like the bought lackeys of the insurance companies they are, when the poor of their districts line up for basic healthcare. It is one thing to argue from a theoretical position and another to see a human in pain and need and say there is money for war in Afghanistan, but none for your medical prescription.
Yes, I’m afraid KO was preaching to the choir; most of his viewers already agree with him. I doubt his impassioned plea will touch the opposition.
John Kenneth Galbraith said it best:
“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.”
It was a great commentary – with personal perspective.
@10 deinandra
His best comment was “we choose life”. It shows up the hypocrisy of the pro-lifers.
*********
It also shows up the hypocrisy of the politicians claiming to be Christians. They choose to take blood money from the insurance corporations all the while lying that people don’t really want single payer or a po.
Keith shows more humility and love in his special comment for his fellow man than any politician or so called Christian publicly speaking out there.
No one with a conscience could help but be moved and realize he has told the truth to politicians, but will they have the compassion to make meaningful healthcare reform? Will they fiddle while Rome burns, salving their consciences with lies and keep taking the bribes from the health insurance and big pharma? Only they can answer that question.
End of rant
sorry should be health insurance companies and big pharma.
I was on the phone with my mum in Australia over the weekend and I told her that I just had to pay $805 for a bloodtest because my sky high deductible on my BCBS insurance plan (from my job) had not been met. She was stunned.
When I was growing up in Sydney – my mum would have us at the doctor regularly and sometimes that included bloodtests. At no time did she have to pay anything for the tests.
My mum also works in a health insurance company in Australia. She’s worked there as a customer service rep in one of the branch offices for over 15 years. She told me that her company, under law, is not allowed to be listed on the stock exchange and operates as a not-for-profit. Her company provides very good care for its members. Because the focus is healthcare – not the bottom line.
We were fortunate, through my mother’s employment, to have both private and public healthcare when I lived in Sydney. Until I turned 21 and started paying for my own coverage, my sister and I were under my parent’s policy.
My sister has juvenile diabetes. My father has a family history of colon cancer, he also has high blood pressure and survived cerebral hemorrhage in his 30′s. My mother has osteoarthritis in both knees. All of them have received excellent healthcare paid for either thru Medicare (public) or private insurance. Their out of pocket costs are minimal. They have never been excluded due to pre-existing conditions.
2 years ago, my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer that required removal of the prostate and a course of radiotherapy. He was under treatment for over 2 months. My parents have not had to file for bankruptcy. Nor have they had to empty out their savings account to pay for the medical bills. My father received excellent care before, during and after his diagnosis and surgery.
My sister just bought a house – she has also not had to drain her savings because of medical bills for her condition. She injects herself with insulin 4 times a day, sees a nutrition specialist regularly, a diabetes specialist plus an opthalmologist every 3 months.
I’m happy that my family is taken care of under the healthcare system in Australia. I would never allow them to live here in the US with me. That would be disaster for them. They would be broke within years. Or worse.
Posted this on open thread. Hopefully, we can gain some traction with this public option. The holidays are coming up and I hate to see anymore delays in the public option. We all need this option. Even the extremist, who claim to not want the government involvement.
This is a link to sign a petition to have the Dems who vote with the Repubs to filibuster the public option will be stripped of their Chairmanship. Raquel Maddows had this on her show. Needs support for the petition. Harry Reid, initiated the decision. The Dems need to act like true Dems.
http://BoldProgressives.org/majorityvote
This is a great video. I watched it last night, but did not have time to comment.
This is your very best work Mr Olberman, It is a classic. Thank you for doing this, and I wish you and your family, especially your father, well.
NoooooPalin – I like this Galbraith quote, too:
“Faced with the choice between changing one’s mind and proving there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.”
I know exactly how he feels!!! I pray he gets ‘organized’ to start these free clinic’s in the states he wishes…the one’s whose reps are making the biggest noise…the most opposed. The other side needs to understand that it’s not how their idiot’s are presenting it to them. It is all about wanting to live!
God Bless You, Keith Olbermann! and your Father too!
Petition in support of Rachel’s report that Dems voting with the GOP for filibuster should be stripped of chairmanships and leadership positions HERE:
http://boldprogressives.org/majorityvote/typ/p-?key=26148022
Sign it and forward to as many as you can.
From the Declaration of Independance…
‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’
Notice and remember, the FIRST right listed is LIFE! If the founding fathers thought it important enough to list, who are we or any politician to argue sensibility? Choose life. Without it, there is no other choice to contemplate!
BB
Sixteen years ago when my father passed away from colon cancer, before he died the dr took my step-mom and I into his office and explained what was happening, what to expect and gave us options.
We chose keeping him comfortable and pain free till the very end, and made his passing very easy for him.
That was our “death panel”…and I thank GOD for that talk every day since my father’s death as it gave us peace in knowing that the dr. cared enough to want my father to not suffer.
I also thank GOD that my step-mother had the best insurance at that time through her job at General Motors, (that paid everything) otherwise for the 5 years my father went from surgery after surgery, chemo after radiation and dr after dr, they would have had to sell their home, drain their savings and then when my father passed away buried like a pauper, my step mom would have had to go into low income housing.
But, as it stands now, at her age of 83, she may still have to sell her home because, GM, as of January will be canceling her insurance after 40 plus years and is told to find something new.
How does she do that with the pre-existing conditions she now has, unless this new bill passes and gives her the quality of life she has lived so far?
Medicare only covers so much and you need more insurance, what does she do?
Every Senator who apposes this bill or one like it, should live for 90 days without the insurance they have and live like the elderly and see how they manage to get their meds when they are told you have exceeded the allowance..and try to pay for it themselves.
It happened to my daughter with her seizure meds and we did not have the $385 it cost to get them for a month and that was on medicade..we were lucky because they made a one time allowance after we argued for over an hour on the phone. If they had not done that, she could have died with her seizures.
So sorry to ramble, KO just made it all come back and as I sat here with tears I had to say something.
Something must be done!!!!
it was a stunning show. I have only just been able to get MSNBC and am now a huge fan of both Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow.
I suppose he was preaching to the choir, but I hope it somehow gets around to others who are on the fence. It was so well done that they would have to see the necessity of health care reform.
There are cries on HuffPost to put the program up on NBC in prime time or even on Sunday after all the talking head shows. Not a bad idea!
My post at #30 was in agreement with KO’s statement, just to clarify. I want healthcare, i.e. LIFE, for ALL of us, regardless of our political preferences or economic situation. Living in FL (for now) I think a public referendum would be good to make the members of the FL House and Senate PAY for their health care… make that ALL states and US House and Senate as well. Let them put their money where their mouth is! And I will keep a keen eye on those 6 states and reps Keith mentioned.
Keith was right on point with last night’s commentry on health care reform. How do I find out if there will be a drive (central collecttion effort) set up and indorsed by Olberman so we the know the entire proceeds will go toward funding the free clinic. If so please have Keith annouce the official collecting agent on his next several programs. I am of limited resources but would like to help to further this cause.
KO did a great job in putting the shame on those that deserve it. I hope they are listening.
This is a very raw subject for me; I lost my father to colon cancer August 16, 2009. The last year of his life was torture. That is what happens to people like my father who chose to leave his corp. sales job to teach in public school so he would be home for his family and children.
I am still fighting with the credit card companies to cancel cards he has not used in years but are still charging monthly fees. I was his POA and executor of his estate, not that he had anything left. And, knowing that my father and my family are just one of millions makes me feel that much worse. No one will be young and healthy forever.
Thanks to Keith, I owe him a big one.
signed the petition above and post it on my facebook page. thanks for the heads up.
Bev, check your Step-mother’s current policy and a proposed policy. If you get a new policy within 60 days, I think, you are considered continuously covered and the pre-existing don’t factor in. We just recently shifted from my husband’s medical which was awful to mine through Public Employees. Our pre-existing conditions weren’t a problem because we avoided a gap in coverage. Also talk to Medicare. There is a choice period coming up the end of the year where you can change your medigap insurance. Good Luck! I know the sense of panic when you think a loved senior will be without medical insurance.
K.O. is the best.
34 BBHounds Says:
October 8th, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I am still fighting with the credit card companies to cancel cards he has not used in years but are still charging monthly fees. I was his POA and executor of his estate, not that he had anything left. And, knowing that my father and my family are just one of millions makes me feel that much worse. No one will be young and healthy forever.
=======
BBH, my advice to you is to write a letter documenting the BS from the credit card cos/banks, address it to the CEO of the company, demand the monthly fees as a refund in 10 days. Get a list of the Equity Analysts that cover the companies (PM me if you need help with this) and attach this to the letter. I’d also put Tim Geithner’s name on the cc list, Elizabeth Warren, Barney Frank and President Obama’s as well. Call the company headquarters, get the fax number for the CEOs office and FAX the letter and the attachments, providing your phone number.
This will get someone from the CEOs office on the phone with you right away because you are threatening to expose their BS to the investors, so you should get resolution with a refund since they have been dragging it on for so long.
@nswfm CA
Thank you for the advice. I will try it and hope I get somewhere this time. I am just so tired of all their bs.
Believe or not I worked in the financial industry for years, before regulations were apparently dropped. Some people in that industry have become so warped by greed it is unbelievable, but I have to believe there are some good people still out there.
Again, thanks for the info.
Keith did a great job but it’s frustrating that most people who needed to hear his message won’t see the show. If the free clinics in the states mentioned are covered by the news that is at least an effort, I just fear it’s all too little too late. It is a fact that people are not only suffering but dying every day because of lack of health care w/or without insurance. My family included, save for my grandkids which we make sure are on medicaid.
Mo, thanks for the additional Galbraith quote. I’m adding it to my list of zingers.
Wow….that made me cry. I really do wish that would be required viewing by all the teabaggers. They might actually see the truth of the situation, that we are fighting for them and the Republicans are fighting against them.
Good comments on Olbermann’s special last night. I thought he hit a home run. Outstanding. But like any good thing I guess there are those who don’t see eye to eye with me. A real downer came when I listened to Randi’s anti Olbermann’s ranting today. I was displeased. So much so I decided to let KUDO 1080 know about it.
“If you want to take Randi Rhodes off that prime time of day spot it is okay with me. Her logic is beginning to open up a lot of question. i.e. I like Letterman too, but her wild defense of him having sex with subordinate female office staff and stating it was simple dating was moronic. Today, 10/8/09, was the straw, she is flat wrong about Keith Olbermann’s health care reform defense last night. If I didn’t know better I would have thought her slanted diatribe and position against his delivery came from a mental midget.
Wearing a KUDO 1080 bumper sticker and having to tell folks to not tune her in is wearing thin. Get her onto the one in the morning time slot”.
Whew, Terps posting in after a long break. Been reading Mudflats but not posting, been so busy with school (when the economy gets tough, the tough go to … community college?)
Anyway, to get this heading towards on topic (which it will be), I’ve also been working to get my office space cleared for new equipment for my music recordings, and bought some nice studio monitors.
Last Monday I bought a new iMac.
Last night Mr. Terps and I watched KO off the new computer with the sound through the studio monitor – - – - I don’t know what y’all are listening to him on, but it is voice that is what does it. And to hear that booming bass/baritone deliver that particular message last night … well, all I could say to my husband was “wow”. That was sheer intensity. I’ll take that over any of those ‘reality’ shows any day. Someone speaking passionately and well about relevant subjects. Darn tootin’ I agree it should receive a wider audience.
I was just going to add “.. whether you agree or disagree with him” but really, what in there could any rational person NOT agree with? Seriously. That is a real question. I really would like to see what people’s objections are to KO’s Special Comment comments last night and how they defend them.
Medicaid and Medicare are still the best programs around though they need reform (ex. $ wasted in unecessary testing and records are a disaster). Reform must be done on existing Gov programs PLUS private insurance companies. With a Public Option it would force the the private ins. companies to reform to compete. What is it that the public/people don’t understand? It means we as a people have a choice. Why is good health ins. only available to a few?
I can’t afford what I’m paying and it doesn’t cover anything except for dying sooner in a frigging hospital. Paying more for pre-existing conditions is not an option whether or not you can work your butt off and still don’t have the money. We are suffering, can’t afford higher premiums, I am sorry we are going through hell like so many others.
Gonna spend some time with hubby. Peace
Keith’s special comment made the tears flow for me. He nailed it as far as I am concerned. I know it seemed like he was preaching to the choir, but I also had the realization that it was directed at the tbaggers and repugs who only hear the fear. I hope the video spreads far and wide on the net and gets the exposure it deserves. I will also support his call to action.
It was a great commentary – with personal perspective.
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