They're Safe

The Daily Caller reports on another DOA story involving sexual harrassment (possily same sex) by Democratic officials in North Carolina.

I will snip this:

“Rest assured there is a statewide gathering (I am told) that are upset over this and want people held accountable,” Jones continued. “In all honesty, I am being told by several reliable sources that the Associated Press is itching to get this out. Thankfully, some are trying to stop it. Do we want the Republicans to get this information? They are also asking questions.”

Jones added that he expects that the “Democratic Party, our Candidates, and our credibility are doomed in this election,” if the alleged sexual harassment story is made public.

If all they are worried about is the AP, they have nothing to worry about. And if this really is a gay sexual harassment scenario, forget it - that is so off-tune with the Elite Media songbook that it will never get play.

Remember John Edwards!  Which is to say, forget John Edwards...

Comments

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

Off topic, our shovel-ready tax money well spent. LUN
"The government spent at least $205,075 in 2010 to “translocate” a single bush in San Francisco that stood in the path of a $1.045-billion highway-renovation project that was partially funded by the economic stimulus legislation President Barack Obama signed in 2009. ....
The bush—a Franciscan manzanita—was a specimen of a commercially cultivated species of shrub that can be purchased from nurseries for as little as $15.98 per plant."

[Danube of Thought]

Wa-HOO! Wa-HOO!

Name that party!

[GMAX]

Would it be too much to ask for this harassment to trace back to Hillary Rosen? Or John Edwards? Or Bwarney Fwank?

[Rob Crawford]

So, the AP's sitting on a story harmful to Democrats?

Must be a day that ends in 'y'.

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

Dang. That captcha is brutal.

Pat Buchanan asks "Trayvon was found lying face down. If Zimmerman had been on top and shot him, would not Trayvon have been found on his back?" LUN

This is why our liberal commenters are obsessed with gay male sex?

[Gabriel Sutherland]

Jim? The President says they've already cut down to the bone.

I suppose there is some bark on that bone.

[Ignatz]

Has Tom ever explained the present frenetic pace of blogging?
Recent retirement?
Lost his bi-polar meds?
Variation on Speed and if he tosses up less than five new threads a day Dennis Hopper blows up his house?

[Soylent Red]

"The government spent at least $205,075 in 2010 to “translocate” a single bush in San Francisco that stood in the path of a $1.045-billion highway-renovation project that was partially funded by the economic stimulus legislation President Barack Obama signed in 2009.

This is why they say they had to do it. But as we all know, in San Francisco in particular, bush is Hitler.

Plus it's a Christianist Franciscan bush, probably planted to deny women their reproductive rights.

It had to go. No price was too high to pay.

[NK]

Ig-- Clarice speculates it's the low carb diet. Unless TomM has a well, it's not in the water, I asume he and I have the same water utility.

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

NK: "Unless TomM has a well, it's not in the water, I asume he and I have the same water utility."

I dunno, you've been pretty prolific too.

[NK]

JimMtn-- OMG -- you're right. Between work and this stuff I've been cranking about 18 hrs/day. Not good for an old guy!!

[RichatUF]

This looks like a good OT thread. Wanted to get a pat on the back or maybe a gold star since I'm sure non will be forth coming from Uncle Sam.

Paid off my student loans this afternoon. The largest check I've ever had in my hands and I managed to keep it in my hands for about 20 minutes. Thinking of framing the check receipt. Or maybe getting shitfaced at the bar then walking home.

[Jane]

Rich,

The proudest day of my life was the day I paid off my student loans. So celebrate! Congratulations! Nice job!

[NK]

RichatUF-- Many, many congrats. Stay as debt free as posible for the near future-- it will give you a competitve advantage over others your age.

[RichatUF]

Thanks Jane. I think I will celebrate but not sure what to do. This one bar I go to...I'll just leave it at that.

NK-

My student loans were the last of my debts. I paid off my credit cards when I was in school. As far as my age, my birthday is in a few days, so I'll try to think of it as an early birthday present.

And I should thank Rick Ballard and the others here for advice on getting my job back. Had I not (and it was surprisingly painless, I made a much better impression than I realized) it would not have happened.

[Rob Crawford]

Congrats, Rich!

[Porchlight]

Congratulations, Rich. That is wonderful.

I remember when you told us about your job situation and Rick's advice. Glad you asked about it, and that it worked out. Smart folks at JOM are the best.

[Porchlight]

Has Tom ever explained the present frenetic pace of blogging?

I believe he said at one point early in the New Fecundity that he was avoiding working on his taxes.

April 15 looms.

For me, JustOneMinute has gone well past JustTenHours all the way to JustOneMonth.

[Frau Krankenhaus]

OT and especially for cathyf:
My son sent me this older--and long-- article praising the care given by the VAH. Paving the way for nationalized medicine?
From The Best Care Anywhere:
"And so it goes today. If the debate is over health-care reform, it won't be long before some free-market conservative will jump up and say that the sorry shape of the nation's veterans hospitals just proves what happens when government gets into the health-care business. And if he's a true believer, he'll then probably go on to suggest, quoting William Safire and other free marketers, that the government should just shut down the whole miserable system and provide veterans with health-care vouchers.

Yet here's a curious fact that few conservatives or liberals know. Who do you think receives higher-quality health care. Medicare patients who are free to pick their own doctors and specialists? Or aging veterans stuck in those presumably filthy VA hospitals with their antiquated equipment, uncaring administrators, and incompetent staff? An answer came in 2003, when the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine published a study that compared veterans health facilities on 11 measures of quality with fee-for-service Medicare. On all 11 measures, the quality of care in veterans facilities proved to be "significantly better."

Here's another curious fact. The Annals of Internal Medicine recently published a study that compared veterans health facilities with commercial managed-care systems in their treatment of diabetes patients. In seven out of seven measures of quality, the VA provided better care. "
I'm hoping to go the rounds over this with my normally sensible nerd son.
Lots more at LUN

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

Congratulations. You're very welcome re the advice. I felt myself on very solid ground giving it because second chances are generally granted when warranted by merit. Remember to ask for 27% more than the initial offer when raises are discussed - you'll be on firm ground there as well.

[centralcal]

Congratulations, Rich. Always listen to Rick Ballard!

[NK]

Good man RichatUF, and ditto for Rick Ballard

[Sue]

Rich,

Way to go! Now, Obama will forgive all student loans and you will be wondering why the hell you, like me, were hard-wired to be a conservative. ::sigh::

[Sue]

DOA. I am racking my brain trying to figure out which department of the government this is and all of the sudden my brain goes ding...ding...ding...sheesh. I'm not sure if that is a reflection on how many government agencies we have or old age.

[Frau Krankenhaus]

Yes, hip-hip-hooray for RichatUF!

When I graduated, I had $250 in unpaid fees which we saved to buy my freedom. Fate stepped in with our first child and the fees for doctor *and* three-day hospital stay took it all. Ah,memories.

[NK]

Sue-- don't joke about that @5:43. I bet 'Bam, Geithner and Bernanke laugh everyday about saps like us who pay our bills and save a little. In the current environment, we are fools.

[RichatUF]

Sue-

Exactly;) But I'm in wait hell waiting from my GMU letter. If I get in, I'm moving to Fairfax and sliding my work schedule.

Rick-

I'll keep that in mind when raises are discussed. And thanks again.

[centralcal]

Man, Frau - you do bring back memories. Amazing how cheep medical care back then seems when you view it in the "wayback machine."

[RichatUF]

Frau-

In re: 5:56 comment. Without looking at the study I wonder if they took into account race as a factor. When the Obamacare debate was going on I found some studies that showed AA medicare patients had the highest end of life care, which makes sense if you think of the damage done to the black family over the last 50 odd years. Or to take race out of it-the liquidation of the nuclear family has much great, longer term consequences than broken homes and bad kids.

[RichatUF]

***has much greater, longer term consequences***

[Melinda Romanoff]

Congratulations, Rich.

Well done. (And sleeping will be a bit easier from now on)

[Frau Krankenhaus]

No, Rich, the view was that the VHA went to computerized records and streamlining care. (Kaiser has, too) The entire vet's system was compared with private care which is more dangerous for the patient (!) and has costlier meds. The doctors working for the govt. "loved" not having to worry about individual costs and could concentrate on the patients. The final push was to recognize that the US was not yet ready for govt. healthcare (cough) and should allow private citizens who perform some type of service (community organizer?) to participate in the VHA system. The entire idea of competition improving treatment and lowering costs was rejected. I'm hoping the ever-alert cathyf will skewer it in her professional manner.

[matt]

Frau;

I have heard the same thing from many friends who use the VA. It is better than it was by all measures.

At the same time, I have seen malpractice as well. It's a mixed bag.I am a firm believer in second opinions.

[Chubby]

Richard, congratulations! the wonderful thing about paying off a big debt is that the wonderful feeling of freedom doesn't go away, it is a longstanding joy.

[Frau Krankenhaus]

I don't doubt that the VHA has improved. The author of the article was convinced that it is at present better than the private system and was advocating a govt. run system for the country even if it is "down the line." In other words, the govt. can do a better job.

[henry]

Frau, the "private system" has many pieces which are not equal. A comparison to the average only says the VA isn't terrible. A better question is how it ranks against various health systems in the private sector. Is the VA better than Aurora? Mayo? Johns Hopkins? Catholic Hospitals? Does the government really deliver high quality service or is it merely mediocre? For example, GovMo produces cars, but others produce better cars.

[Ann]

Congratulations, RichatUF!

I am so very happy for you.

[RichatUF]

Frau-

That's what I get for not reading the article.

Chubby-

I hope so.

Ann-

Glad you are back in the comments! Hope you are here more often.

[Clarice]

CONGRATS, RICH. On money matters you could do far worse than taking Rick's advice. I know you'e been thru a lot the past few years, I hope things are getting better. You deserve that.

[Janet]

Dittos on all the congratulations, RichatUF!

[Caro]

Ha,Rich, remember when I was on the corner in DC asking perfect strangers, "Are you rich?"

Good for you.

And I would love to have a little Rick Ballard doll sitting on my shoulder.

[Sara]

Re: Hospitals

I spent 26 years in the military hospital system. I had excellent care at Navy Hospital San Dieo, even if they did expect me to clean my own toilet and change my own bed. Navy Hospital Charleston, where I was taken after a freak accienet was a nightmare.

I have had surgery at Johns Hopkins which was an okay experience, but nothing to shout about and the hospital is the pits because it is so old.

The very best care, both medically and caring-wise was a Catholic Hospital in Baltimore, MD, where I was brought in by ambulance after my original knee injury. I was there for 3 1/2 weeks and had two surgeries and I felt so pampered the whole time, it made the pain and everything else easier. Of course, at that time, my only previous experience was at the two Navy Hospitals, so I was blown away at the difference in the attention I received.

The medical care was adequate, but the difference in facilities and the overall care was vast.

My coursin, who had 24/7 care of her Dad in the last couple years of his life used my Uncle's VA benefits for his care and she has nothing but good things to say. They provided all his meds and other post surgical needs, pads, bandages, etc, plus they always sent a wheelchair van to pick him up for his appts. They sent a physical therapist to the house as well.

[RichatUF]

Caro-

That's the last time I ventured to DC in my car. I think we missed each other by a few minutes. I'll take a train in next time-good grief I don't see how anyone can drive there.

Again thanks again to everyone here for there support and advice.

[Neo]

Face the facts.

The media in this country rationalize their interactions with this Administration roughly in the same manner as CNN interacted with Saddam Hussein's regime.

The only difference is that they like Obama a bit more, but down underneath it all, they live in fear that their sources will cut them off if they cross the line and subject Obama to anything even approaching the scrutiny that they gave Bush 43.

[Ralph L]

Navy medicine was pretty sorry in the 70's and early 80's because money was tight and they were no longer getting quality draftees. I just missed the boy-molesting cardiologist at Bethesda by a year or two when I had a catheterization the week before I went to college. I think a dozen different doctors listened to my heart murmur, but they couldn't come to a consensus diagnosis without the test, which was scary, painful and embarrassing--except for the hour I was high as a kite.

In the old building, you had to walk in a big circle through most of the building to get to out-patient records from the entrance. We were convinced they designed it to discourage use.

People are crazy if they think single-payer is a good idea.

[narciso]

Just more slapping with the halibut

http://volokh.com/2012/04/13/still-unprecedented-recycling-the-same-two-examples-of-supposed-economic-mandates/

[richatuf]

drinking at a pub wish jomers were here my phone and bar survailance suck

[RichatUF]

Whose got bail money?

[RichatUF]

There is a story and Tucker Max would be disappointed. I guess its true that assholes do finish first. Or maybe I need more to drink.