Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Danger: The Triggered Public Option

If you choose to bore yourself to tears and listen to Obama’s speech tonight, here is what you should listen for. The public option is dead, right? Sure, Obama may mention it, but a whole bevy of Senators have refused to pass any bill that contains it. So it’s dead, right? Right? Why do I keep asking? Here’s why:

Meet Olympia Snowe (RINO - Maine). . . your worst nightmare.

According to CNN and CNBC (and probably others), Sen. Snowe, one of the last great RINOs, is working hard to get Obama the public option. Well, that’s not what she calls it, but that’s what it is. And how does she plan to snatch this crucial socialist victory for her Lord Obama from the well-deserved jaws of defeat visited upon him by the hands of the peasants? Behold: the triggered public option.

The triggered public option works this way. A scaled-down health care reform bill is drafted. It basically does nothing and offends no one. But it lets Obama save face -- something near and dear to the hearts of all RINOs. Hidden within the bill will be the Snowe Amendment (“Snowejob” for short). If (read: “when”) those insurance “reforms” included in the bill don’t result in a reduction in insurance costs within a certain amount of time, a full-on public option will spring forth upon us. . . like a highwayman hiding behind a rock in Maine.

Thereafter, the obvious will occur. The current insurance system will die. You will lose your insurance. You will end up on the public plan. Doctors will revolt, by refusing to take public plan patients. Patients too will revolt when they can’t find doctors and when the doctors they can find can’t get paid for doing any work. The system will go broke quicker than a Congressman in a whorehouse because the numbers are laughably phony. Our budget will collapse, angering the Chinese who hold so much of our debt, but thrilling the gold nuts. And as people begin demanding that their city councils put up statutes of Obama giving Stalin a Snowejob, a retarded woman in Maine will go on television and say, “no one could have seen this coming.”

Seriously, this is the new danger. It is a tactic as old as time itself. When the enemy is on to you, pretend you are doing something else. Since they know they can’t force a public option on a vigilant public, they will try to create a situation that leads to a public option coming into existence without a direct vote. By creating a springing public option, no one need ever vote “yes, I want to socialize our medicine” to make that happen. Indeed, it will happen all on its own, without anyone needing to claim responsibility for it. . . after all, the bill they voted for didn’t create a public option, that “somehow happened” later. In fact, they will assure you, they voted for this bill to prevent the public option.

This is the same trick used by the Congress whenever they want to do something the public doesn’t want and can’t find a sucker to take credit for it.

Now there is one thing that might save us from these masochistic RINOs. Despite the recent mania about the left suddenly morphing into a unified front of evil geniuses, all working according to plan, they are in fact a bunch of whiny morons who can’t stay on the same page for more than a few hours. And they are livid about the idea of a triggered public option. Why?

Go back and read my article about short term versus long term thinking. In that article, I explain how liberal thinking is static; i.e. they live in the moment. They do not understand that people will react to incentives, causing long term shifts in behavior and intended (or unintended) consequences. Thus, they see this legislation simply as a defeat: it does not promise a public option, hence there will never be a public option. Obama lied, my Stalinist dreams died!

Conservatives, on the other hand, who tend to be long term, dynamic thinkers understand that while the bill does not create a public option now, it will be inevitable under this bill. The bill does nothing to lower insurance costs or to help insurers lower costs. Yet, it will trigger if those insurers, who are hostage to massive regulation, don’t do what they cannot do. In effect, the public option is guaranteed. . . but don't tell your leftist friends that, we need them as upset as possible.

As an aside, the difference between long and short term thinking also explains why conservatives understand that a public option will destroy and replace the current system, whereas liberals can’t see that because the bill doesn’t ban private insurance (“if it exists now, and it’s not banned, why won’t it exist forever?”).

So sadly, our best hope lies with the left. Talk about irony though? We need to hope that the left kills a bill designed by a RINO to make sure that the left gets everything they want. Good grief.

In the meantime, call your representatives. Tell them that you will consider a vote for a triggered public option the same as vote for a public option. Don’t let them hide behind the idea that they aren’t supporting a public option or the lie that “it will never happen.” The people have won a victory for democracy, don’t let a Maine SnoweRINO take that victory away.

42 comments:

MegaTroll said...

Thanks for the tip. You couldn't pay me to watch that jackass talk tonight. But it's good to know the next trick.

AndrewPrice said...

I'm not going to watch it either. What's he going to say I haven't already heard a dozen times. Plus, I hear it's going to be a "base" speech. So I think I'll pass.

But I am concerned that Snowe and her "gang of six", who are trying to negotiate a "solution" will sell us out. This triggered public option is exactly the sort of thing that politicians love. They can gamble with our country and they get to take the credit if it works and deny any involvement if it doesn't.

CrispyRice said...

Great analysis and interesting to see your theory in action here.

Always a good reminder to stay on our reps, Andrew. It's going to be a looooong 4 years having to call them practically every darn day.

And I'm so incredibly sick of the RINOs. A friend and I were discussing who the Republicans could run in 2012 and we could totally see them tapping someone like Snowe. UGH!

StanH said...

Right on Andrew! The RINOs are dangerous indeed. They are engaged in the Potomac two step, using terms like, trigger, co-op, and this is exactly the point to raise hell with all of our representatives.

AndrewPrice said...

CrispyRice, Thanks, I'm glad you found it useful.

I think the RINOs will be irrelevant in the next two election cycles (2010/2012). They put all their eggs in the basket of King RINOs McCain, and he felt apart. It's pretty clear that the rank and file will not listen to them again for some time.

The danger is the sort of thing going on with Snowe, that she and other RINOs will keep coming up with ways to help the Dems and to provide them with cover.

AndrewPrice said...

Thanks Stan. That's exactly what this is, the Potomac Two-Step. This is how they get to vote for something without ever voting for it, and how they can claim they voted against something that they voted for. It's like calling a budget increase "a cut" because it's less of an increase than expected.

LawHawkSF said...

Andrew: The trigger is set to go off, whether anybody pulls it or not. The RINOs will help by putting together alternate plans which will never work, or won't work in time to prevent the trigger being pulled, giving the left the cover they need to say "see, we told you, we must have a public plan." I hope a lot of people read your piece, and see the danger in what on its face looks like a good compromise. It's not a compromise. It's suicide.

AndrewPrice said...

That's exactly right Lawhawk. This trigger is more of a timer than a trigger. It will go off as planned because there is no chance that any of the other fake "reforms" they include can have any effect. All this does is delay the public option and allow them all to claim they didn't do it.

ArmChairGeneral said...

Haven't you heard? This government does not listen to "gallop polls" or the "opinions of its people". It's My way or the highway. Ask Robert Gibbs because he said this so himself today. "Leaders have to make hard choices to get things done. We wouldn't have a domestic auto industry or a banking system if the government hadn't stepped in." Wake up guys. He's preaching communism.

AndrewPrice said...

ACG, A couple points. While politicians should pay attention to the wishes of their constituents, they should not be slaves to polls either. Reagan didn't listen to polls.

Also, communism? No, not even close. But a European-style, soft socialism that would be very destructive of the system.

Sanmon said...

I for one will watch tonight. If you think by not watching you are doing yourself and this country a service I would ask you what service is that? Last night you post a a Vid of the talking head and then comment about the small details that you believe matter. Ah she was laughing at us.

Well I for one know this President is laughing at us and he could care less. Just like he laughs at the Hondurans. If someone is going to take my freedoms and liberties away I will at least watch and not pull the covers over my head! I will look into my enemies eyes with the best tools I have available. If your going to Socialize me I am going to see it. If the only thing I gain from watching is to notice the reaction of the so called Republicans clap like trained seals, then thats what I will learn who and how well trained they have become! How well Trained have you become? Tune out, turn on, smoke another one!

ArmChairGeneral said...

I was not saying they should be slaves to polls but they should listen to the people.

Sanmon said...

ACG,
I got Gibbs message. I know it to be called Totalitarianism. It is soon to be known as America :(

AndrewPrice said...

ACG, True, but there is something to be said for standing on principle. That's what I'd prefer the Republicans did.

AndrewPrice said...

Sanmon, I'm not saying don't watch it, I'm just saying that I don't think it's worth the time. I know what he's advocating and I don't need to see the sales pitch to know that I don't want it.

Also, rhetoric is hollow. I want to see the legislation.

Sanmon said...

Your right rhetoric is hollow it is your actions that count.

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.
John Adams

Joel Farnham said...

You can call it manure, guano, excrement or poop. It still is the same thing and smells just as bad.

Tonight, I will watch the ONE. Not because I feel he will give me more information. I just want to see a man facing his political doom.

Writer X said...

Andrew, I couldn't get through reading your post without choking on my coffee: "Congressman in a whorehouse; retarded woman in Maine." Too funny. Sad but funny.

Well, I might be the only one watching the stupid speech but I feel that I have to. Yeah, I'm sure it will be a complete snowjob, but at least I'd like to hear the lies with my own ears.

AndrewPrice said...

Sanmon, Great quote. . . sadly, very accurate.

Joel, Turn it into a drinking game. everytime he demonizes someone, take a shot. But make sure you have an ambulance standing by, because you may find yourself suffering from blood poisoning!

Writer X said...

BTW, I linked to your post today. It should be required reading for bloggers.

Writer X said...

Hey, I like the drinking game idea! Take a shot every time Nancy Pelosi jumps up and claps?

AndrewPrice said...

Writer X, I was only being factual?! ;-)

If you're going to watch, then maybe you can give us a "speech report."

AndrewPrice said...

Thanks for the link. . . very cool.

Use Nancy Pelosi for a drinking game? Have you no respect for the office? LOL! Actually, that's a great idea. Knowing that she has any power in this country does make one want to drink.

LawHawkSF said...

Andrew: I'm gonna watch it. I'm a big fan of this kind of thing. Like watching grass grow. Or watching paint dry.

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew and WriteX, It depends on whether I want to get drunk or obliterated.

How many times Obama denigrates someone? How many times Pelosi jumps up and claps? How many times Obama uses I in his speech?

Some many choices. :-)

Writer X said...

I wasn't planning on watching the speech without at least one martini. Regarding a speech report, I'm pretty sure it will go something like this:

- President enters. Blue tie? Red tie? How about a Mickey Mouse tie?
- Everyone, for some reason, will want to shake his hand to show that they are "bipartisan."
- Standing ovation. Nancy clapping behind the President like a botoxed penguin. Will need to wake up Joe.
- The President will talk about the healthcare bill in a way that only he understands. Lots of frowns in the audience, mostly because they contemplate the bloodbath in the next election.
- He will refer to at least three people seated next to Michelle who "almost died" because, for some reason, they weren't smart enough to go to a hospital for care.
- He will talk about how he has great health care but the rest of us do not. Congress will squirm nervously in their seats.
- He won't mention the public option by name but call it something else. It won't take a secret decoder ring to figure it out.
- The speech will end and everyone will clap wildly without really knowing why.

The End. The Taxpayers get screwed. Again.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, I would suggest every "uh" or "um" but I'm not sure there is enough alcohol on the planet to do that.

Lawhawk, paint drying. . . good show.

Joel Farnham said...

WriterX, What about the fear in O's eyes?

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew, What are you thinking? I am on a budget!!!

AndrewPrice said...

Writer X,

Botoxed penguin -- LOL!

I actually think Obama will go the other way. I think he will come out (red tie). The Dems clap politely, the Republicans clap politely, the RINOs gasp and and clap and fall and throw underwear like they are groupies at a rock concert.

Obama will open up mentioning "the crisis."

He will say the country must do better. He'll mention Kennedy.

Then he starts demonizing "those who stand in the way, those who benefit from the current system." Then he'll mention insurers.

Then he'll tell us why a public option is good and the critics don't have an alternative.

Thus, we need a public option.

Bad insurers, call your congressmen, don't let the do-nothing sayers stand in the way, bad insurers, bad corporations, they ration right now, unlike Medicare, bad insurers.

Start calling Congress my winged monkeys.

Much applause.

CNN reporters start crying and hugging each other.

Writer X, throws martini glass at screen.

Writer X said...

Joel, I think the fear in his eyes will be more evident after the speech when he realizes that he failed to convince anyone except Michelle and the three people seated next to her.

Writer X said...

Andrew, I forgot about the CNN reporters hugging each other. Nice touch. I will remember to use plastic martini glasses tonight.

AndrewPrice said...

X, Forgot to mention, I LOL at the idea of the three people who were too dumb to find an ER. Isn't that the truth!

Linda J. Hutchinson said...

Very well said! I'm bloody from some of the beatings I've taken on Twitter for my views about our megalomaniac president and his Commu-totalitarian friends. Keep at 'em--and I will, too.

AndrewPrice said...

Thanks Linda, and welcome! Keep punching away, the American people expressing themselves is a beautiful and powerful thing. Hopefully, we can all add to something useful to that debate!

Sanmon said...

You guys forgot about that person sitting next to Michelle. That very sweet person who just had to bury dear old mom after speaking hours and days and weeks on the phone with that Evil Insurance Company to get some aspirin paid for.

MegaTroll said...

I think we should drink every time he mentions Kennedy!

ArmChairGeneral said...

I think we should take a drink every time he mentions "policy", "Kennedy", "Special Interest Groups", "Republicans", "The Other Side", "Change", or "Action".

We will be drunk in less than two minutes.

On the other hand if we took a drink every time he said "oh, um" we would be drunk in less than a minute.

Tell me you guys saw the Ambulance ACLU commercial. It is the one with the ambulance rushing to get somewhere, presumably a hospital, but people in SUVs (Evil SUVS) keep blocking its path and it has to take another route. Then there's the voice over that says "Special Interest Groups are trying to stop progress on Health Care Reform..yadda yadda..." We can do it we are here to help.

ACLU.

Special Interest Groups? You mean like ACORN, ACLU, SCIU, K Street, All the Czars? Are those the special interest groups you are talking about or are you talking about the "Republican Militants and Neo Conservatives?"

Gag me with a spoon.

AndrewPrice said...

ACG, LOL! I saw those ads and I had the same thought. The Democratic party is nothing but a collection of special interest groups all bound together by an unholy agreement to scratch each other's backs.

LawHawkSF said...

ArmChairGeneral: I should have paid more attention. I thought it was an ad for the trial lawyers, so I ignored it. LOL

BevfromNYC said...

Writer X: I was reading your wonderful play by play when I got to " Standing ovation. Nancy clapping behind the President like a botoxed penguin."

I looked up just as, yes, Pelosi was clapping like a botoxed penguin on TV. I nearly fell out of my chair laughing!! Thank you!

Writer X said...

Bev, you are so welcome. At least the woman is predictable. And what was with the red dress? My retinas will never be the same.

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