President's S-Chip Veto

The President vetoed S-Chip, yet again, citing the fact that folks will be dissuaded from enrolling in the Private Insurance Market. John Baynor of Ohio, the House Republican Leader, said that Democrats are playing politics. I don't think any of them truly get it. First of, if they come down and live like us ordinary folks who are trying to stay afloat, they would realize that the private insurance market DOES NOT work. The private insurance providers are becoming more restrictive, they don't truly care and they are increasingly becoming out of reach for ordinary individuals. I don't understand why President Bush and Mr. Baynor think that Insurance is a privilege, not a right..that insuring a fundamental underlying right to have a healthy society is somehow something that can't be reached. I suppose they know something I don't.

Another Exciting Week....

Things are never boring in Washington. Just this week saw the President justifying his "conservative" credentials on the back of the poor and the desperate. I heard today that he justified his veto of the S-Chip program (the insurance program for kids) on the fact that it "costs" too much and that government programs ought to encourage people to buy private insurance. The President is living in Fantasyland. Health Insurance is increasingly becoming a luxury for many Americans. It seems that Conservatives and Republicans think that it is a privilege and not a right. Whenever such things occur, I am reminded of what John Kerry said during one of the debates: don't get sick. That's exactly the message that the President sent out today.

As the President was telling the country about his desire to limit the role of government and the desire to be fiscally prudent (what a joke!!!), he sent forth his largest submittal to Congress for $ 190 Billion to fund the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Nobody dares to remind him of how he has continued to mislead the country. Nobody in the mainstream press is working to call him to account over his overt attempts to re-write and rejustify history. At least, icons like Senator Byrd are there to remind the ever-powerful President and Adminstration that Congress will not be a rubber stamp. The President will get the money--because we are at war that we did not need to be in.

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when I saw the GAO report which just came out with a report of $ 146 Million in travel expense abuses. What a record to run on...if any Republican survives in 2008, it will be a miracle....

Also, BTW, I saw the amen crowd in Congress speaking up for Blackwater (including Tom Davis and Darrell Issa). I guess their view is that we have to simply not say anything and let the neo-mercenaries do pretty much whatever they want. Yes, they rescued the Polish Ambassador today. Well, for $ 600/Day, they better do something.

I am thankful for guys like Henry Waxman that just won't give up and will hold the feet of the Administration to the fire. Democrats have to win...for the sake of us all....