Blame-Shifting? Nooooo...

The Times engages in a classic bit of wishful reporting as they cover Obama's shredding of the ACA for a quick political boost:

Republicans portrayed the policy switch as an effort to shift blame to insurance companies.

Republicans? Here is how the Orator-in-Chief explained this grinding of the gears at a very late date in the process:

And so what we want to do is to be able to say to these folks, you know what, the Affordable Care Act is not going to be the reason why insurers have to cancel your plan.

Normally insurance companies take months to set up plans, negotiate with network providers, get state insurance commissioners to sign off on the proposed rates, and then do a bit of marketing. Now they have until December 15 for customers whose plans are cancelled as of Jan 1. But hey, don't blame Obamacare! It has only been the law for three years now; if insurance companies really thought it would go into effect and acted accordingly, well, psych!

Maybe all the state insurance commissioners friendly enough to chat with the Times are also Republicans:

After the president announced the proposed changes, insurance regulators participated in a heated conference call, according to one regulator, where many expressed deep unhappiness about the proposal.

Some on the call felt “the president kind of threw us under the bus today,” the regulator said on the condition of anonymity because the discussion was supposed to be private.

FWIW, the Times editors are troubled:

President Obama has come up with a modest fix for a self-inflicted political wound: his repeated — and wrong — assertions that Americans would be able to keep their health insurance plans if they wanted to under the health care reform law.

The fix, which deals with the cancellations of individual policies, is far preferable to a destructive Republican bill that is expected to come up for a vote in the House on Friday and to a Senate bill sponsored by some Democrats. But it raises a few troubling questions, most of which cannot be answered quickly.

Among the questions apparently not troubling the editors is, how is this even legal? They are worried a little about the economicd and a lot about the politics:

It is not clear at this point how many insurers might be willing to reinstate the plans they have just canceled or how many state insurance commissioners might be willing to approve such reinstatements, or how many Congressional Democrats might consider the president’s proposal adequate to placate angry constituents and stifle Republican attacks.

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, praised Mr. Obama’s move as an important step toward addressing the problem and pledged to do more, if needed.

The White House had no estimates on how many consumers whose policies were canceled might want reinstatement as opposed to buying something better, often with the help of subsidies. It is also unclear how the temporary fix might affect the overall goal of upgrading the benefits covered and keeping premiums affordable.

If a relatively small population of people get extensions, as some experts think likely, the effect on premiums in the overall health insurance market may be minimal. Even so, this disturbing reversal is caused by the incompetence of the administration in ushering in reforms that millions have been waiting for.

 

 

Comments

[Ignatz]

Well, on the bright side, at least now we finally know what happens when you pass a bill to find out what's in it.

[Porchlight]

Allahpundit's analysis on the Rubio measure makes it look like pretty smart politics. Here's the link again:

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/11/15/rubio-to-introduce-bill-that-would-repeal-risk-corridor-a-k-a-bailout-provisions-of-obamacare/

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

That McConnell link @ 2:21 left of Sen. Mark Warner of VA. He tried to take down his video but Breitbart has it running.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/11/12/Dem-Senator-Disables-Embedding-For-Health-Insurance-Pledge-Video

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Stephanie thanks. This is beautiful.. this is another step on the road to Repeal. The Dems passed this thing knowing there would be a death spiral of losses, so they bribed the Insurers... USING TAXPAYER MONEY. EVERY DEM voted for this taxpayer bailout of the Insurers. Two things to push in the Senate now --Keep Your Plan and Rubio's abolish the Bailout.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

I just want to add that I'm filled with a white hot rage at those climate frauds who killed the world's oldest animal to try to support their ignorant propaganda posing as science. daddy linked it last night.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Levin was slattering Warner last night too.

[Threadkiller]

You have to kill it before you know what is in it, CH.

[GMax]

Well as I predicted, no tar heels today in the House Democrat caucus. They were throughly outflanked and a big chunk of their right flank simply dropped their weapons and ran like scalded dogs.

Better yet, Upton is now a "bipartisan" bill that if Senate Democrats dont get behind, you slaughter them with their perfidy in their campaign to separate them from their cushy chairs.

Still no Double Douchebag? You have a barometer right there of how this is going for the incompetent liars party...

[MaryD]

Mark Steyn is on fire. FTA:
"Marie Antoinette, informed that the peasantry could no longer afford bread, is alleged to have responded, “Let them eat cake.” There is no evidence these words ever passed her lips, but certainly no one ever accused her of saying, “If you like your cake, you can keep your cake,” and then having to walk it back with, “What we’re also discovering is that cake is complicated to buy.” That contribution to the annals of monarchical unworldliness had to await the reign of Queen Barry Antoinette, whose powdered wig seems to have slipped over his eyes."
LUN

[peter]

Steyn wrote, if you like your clam, you can keep your clam.

Frankly, scallop, I don't give a clam.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

GMax-- it gets better than that... the House should immediately pass Rubio's anti-Bailout bill, and a waiver revocation Bill, so Reid has 3 extraordinarily popular Feexes in front of the Senate. When Reid/Schumer/Obama jerk those Feexes around, the House should pass complete Repeal, as the only option left. Plays out beautifully IMO.

[Stephanie]

More problems:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today released guidance to state insurance commissioners implementing President Obama’s “fix” for people losing their insurance. Not only does it violate the explicit text of Obamacare itself, but it also raises the possibility of insurers getting access to a new pool of bailout funds.

.....

[from the memo]
Though this transitional policy was not anticipated by health insurance issuers when setting rates for 2014, the risk corridor program should help ameliorate unanticipated changes in premium revenue. We intend to explore ways to modify the risk corridor program final rules to provide additional assistance.

...

According to the Congressional Budget Office, Obamacare already gives more than $1 trillion in subsidies to insurance companies over the next 10 years. President Obama’s extra-legal “fix” could now result in the Administration offering insurers a bailout totaling billions of dollars more. It’s one more reason why there is only one real Obamacare “fix,” and that’s scrapping the law entirely.

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/11/14/administration-offering-insurers-obamacare-bailout/#.UoZ-58SX__H

[Danube on iPad]

"I will make sure my readers know that you deserve the credit for undermining yourself."

Either you are terribly confused, or you have lost your mind. I did not contend that you mentioned a pdf. I said that you had brought up the White House Xerox machine (which you later mysteriously denied having done). And I said that you brought it up in an effort to mock the notion that the "layers" in the pdf of the birth certificate could simply have been caused by the scanning process. It absolutely does not, as you well know.

Being excruciatingly familiar with your penchant for evasiveness and weasel-wording, I suppose you will deny any such motive for mentioning the White House machine. But you and I both know very well that such a denial would be false.

It is my hope that after today you will never again suggest in any way that the presence of layers in a pdf, in and of itself, establishes any wrongdoing whatsoever.

[Marlene]

MaryD,I see that Kuster and Shea-Porter voted for the Upton bill.Are they running scared?

[Porchlight]

So much gloatenfreude, so little time:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/11/15/the-insiders-for-democrats-dark-days-ahead/

Comments, at least the first few, indicate this right-leaning author may be actually too optimistic about chances for the Dems.

[Threadkiller]

One scrutinizing reader asked if I could find where I denied bringing up the Xerox machine. It was tough for me to explain that I have no access to Danube's imagination.

Maybe one of Danube's readers can help him out of this mess he created.

[sundiver]

Thread guy and iPad;

Take it outside, dudes.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Porch-- the absence of virtualy any Libs responding to the Rogers bit in WaPo, and lib-Dems constitute the vast majority of WaPo readers, is screaming Dem Panic. Love it, Love it.

[Threadkiller]

What I did find was Danube's claim that "a layered pdf of O's birth certificate" was "produced" by the "White House Xerox machine."

At 9:49 TK is once again suggesting that there is something fishy about the White House Xerox machine, since it produced a "layered" pdf of O's birth certificate

Posted by: Danube of Thought | November 15, 2013 at 12:23 PM

And I found an evaded question:

"Does Danube, or any of his readers, have proof that the pdf was created on a Xerox machine at The Whitehouse?"

Posted by: Threadkiller | November 15, 2013 at 01:14 PM

It must be a trick.

[Jack is Back!]

Back in the day, we'd say that Obama is "not very commercial" or IOW's he doesn't understand the deal and how to protect himself (or company) from project liabiliities. When we would deal with Owners, Clients, or their agents, who showed a certain lack of commercial expertise or even understanding we would usually back away from considering that project.

Obama reminds me of one of those under-capable in terms of commercial, risk and business acumen. No experience - ever. And it shows everyday now that he is front and center on the most commercial piece of legislation ever passed in this country. Every facet of "the deal" is flawed. From its design (legislation) to its construct (regulation) to its operations (webiste, exchanges, enrollments, etc.).

If you had to design, build and operate a railroad, factory, powerplant in the same manner, all parties would go broke, the damn thing would not work, people would die from the execution and operation and the taxpayers or stockholders would take the fall for the consequential damages.

The republicans did the smart play by staying away from this in 2010. Much like we would do by deciding not to bid or work with this particularly obtuse and ignorant client.

[MaryD]

Marlene, I think they're scared spitless. IIRC, the latest poll by UNH had Kuster's approval rating at something like 23%. On top of everything else, the fact that she's a tax cheat came out after her election. When called on it, she blamed the cheating on the fact the she and her husband have two children. Imagine that! It's a wonder the poor woman can walk upright.

Don't know about Shea-Porter, but she's a loudmouthed buffoon and if the Republicans can come up with a decent candidate to run against her -- NOT some recycled old RINO -- she should be very beatable.

Shaheen is also running like a scalded dog from the debacle, but the Union Leader is beating her like a gong, several times a week. That makes me smile.

[Extraneus]

Do you guys not care that you're littering the site with this inane argument? On Glitchmas, no less???

[Danube on iPad]

"'It was you that brought up the Xerox machine as it related to the pdf'.

"Should I quote your testimony?"

I took that to be a denial that you brought it up. I say it's spinach, and I say the hell with it.

Let's cut to the chase: does the presence of apparent layers in a pdf, in and of itself, establish wrongdoing?

[Threadkiller]

How can a "Blame Shifting" thread be littered with blame shifting comments?

[Threadkiller]

So, you were wrong about the "denial"?

[Threadkiller]

"does the presence of apparent layers in a pdf, in and of itself, establish wrongdoing?"

No.

[AliceH]

Your pleas fall on deaf ears, Ext.

[Threadkiller]

I did not know Danube was deaf.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

I have this mental image of TK and DoT sitting together in a Silver Strand Cantina concocting these comments together and posting them on one IPad, in falling down hysterics while the stack of empty Tequila shot glasses rises ever higher.

[Account Deleted]

bgates,

Thank you, once again, for the narcisolator.

[Jack is Back!]

It just might come to putting DoT in the narcisolator along with TK.

This at JOM is called The Nuclear Option:)

[Porchlight]

Glitchmas

lol, Ext.

[AliceH]

--Thank you, once again, for the narcisolator.--

cosigned.

[Jack is Back!]

And what do we eat on Glitchmas?

Turket of course.

[Threadkiller]

I had that feeling as well, NK. Of course that was before he defriended me and compared me to David Duke.

[MaryD]

bgates, I too thank you for the Narcisolator. What a blessed relief.

[Threadkiller]

versions of narcisolator - Userscripts.org

http://userscripts.org/scripts/versions/37246

[Danube on iPad]

If it comes to that, nuke away. If people don't wanna come, there's no way you can stop 'em.

Joe DiMaggio used to say that he gave it his best shot every day, because there might be a kid in the stands for whom this would be the only chance ever to see him play.

That's akin to how I feel about this birther crap: Every time some of this nonsense gets posted, there may be some reader who doesn't know the background, and actually believes that it's true, or that it's accepted as true by the JOM community. My mission is to show that it's pure, dishonest bullshit.

[maryrose]

Gmax and NK:
Excellent points. WH has already said it will veto Upton bill. Landrieu needs at least 10 more dems for Harry to take her seriously. One by one as dem senators see huge cancellations in their state they decide to support Landrieu's bill.
Governor Beshaer of Kentucky said it is up to the state insurance commission and insurance companies to allow old plans to continue. He doesn't seem fazed about any problem in Kentucky. Whoever is the senate republican candidate there should beat the ACA like a drum. No help from the guv here.
Marlene : How did Michaud vote today?
Which dems besides Barrow voted with repubs?

[Threadkiller]

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2013/11/14/the_dictator_joined_in_progress

He lies?

[Account Deleted]

JiB,

I like "not very commercial" but I'm not sure the insurance fascists will be able to get past "Are you nuts?" (polite version). No one will ever be able to ascertain BOzo's level of ignorance but his latest proposal must be weighed on the scale of pure stupidity. He has left ignorance in the distant dust.

[Steve]

Video: Jon Stewart Destroys Obama and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2013/11/video-jon-stewart-destroys-obama-and.html

[Threadkiller]

Danube's mission is to take one comment of TK's and turn it into many.

If people don't like it, Danube does not care.

Danube is the thought police for the JOM community.

[Extraneus]

He just gave us his purpose, TK. What's yours? Are you trying to convince us of something? Entertain? Inform?

[Threadkiller]

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2013/11/14/truth-from-powers-hes-just-creating-chaos/

[cathyf]

It is not clear at this point how many insurers might be willing... or how many state insurance commissioners might be willing...

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Look, what about "it's over". Reading various computer geek autopsies of this turkey, they knew with utter certainty that it wasn't going to work by last summer. Delaying all the mandates for a year would have been physically possible then; there was actually time to write the policies and get them approved. Even late September, when Obama shut down the government rather than take the year-delay lifeline -- at least then there was two months not two weeks to get the job done. Maybe it was possible, maybe not, but two weeks?!?

It is just totally irrelevant how willing anyone is to violate the Laws of Space-Time...

[Obama]

I'd like to thank DOT and Threadkiller for distracting from the mess I've made of Obamacare.

[Threadkiller]

Iggy figured it out, Ext. I was making a one liner style joke that was similar to Hits? Norma Desmond post. No one complained. I suspect people laughed.

Several days ago daddy posted his woes about accessing a healthcare site where they asked certain identification questions. I made a joke about the identification process being the reason behind Obama's self exemption.

Daddy laughed.

Danube came in fists of furry style from a similar comment.

I retaliated when he posted strawman garbage.

Look if you want to. Iggy did.

[peter]

NK at 3:36 !

[maryrose]

TK and Danube:
These are important days for we republicans who abhor Obama.
All in good time the truth will finally be revealed about his grades, his origin and his hubris. As we speak the great unveiling is taking place. We need both of you to celebrate with us as the emperor's lack of clothes is revealed.

[peter]

Well now that Danube's cited Joe DiMaggio, I'm siding with him. Go Yankees!

[Ignatz]

--That's akin to how I feel about this birther crap:--

Except we're not kids in the stands, this aint the major leagues and you aren't Mr. Coffee, so why don't both of you just STFU?

[Marlene]

maryrose,he voted against. He (and Dems in Maine) must be confident that this is Lepage's weak spot. They are taking a chance,because this thing is imploding.

MaryD,my brother refers to Shea-Porter as a moonbat.

[Jack is Back!]

Tk,

He is not my thought police. I think you are beating a dead horse but that is just my opinion. DoT's excuse for responding I can buy.

But let me ask you something: Do you think any of your birther postings have convinced anyone here to agree with your POV? If so, can you identify them for us?

When your not on this Quixotic mission you are a great poster and I like you as a member of the tribe. Its just no one is buying what you are selling except the other's at Birther Report etc.

BTW, go ahead and respond to this but I will not counter respond and make this another agonizing thread.

[Threadkiller]

Sorry, Ig.

Later.

[Threadkiller]

JiB, I appreciate what you are saying. I really do. Do you want me to cut out any jokes that may provoke Danube?

Are we worried about him?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

So they're not in a Cantina together doing Tequila?

[maryrose]

cathyf:
Doesn't that sum up this laughable presidency. Once again Obama is a day late and a dollar short. His arrogance and pride in not taking the offered 1 year delay just shows his anti-Midas touch.
When I think about 3 more years of this level of ineptitude I shudder. What were people thinking in 2012? Most of the evidence was there. He deliberately postponed this roll-out until after the election. He knew than that if revealed before, along with IRS {he knew} NSA{he definitely knew} Fast and Furious{he ordered}and Sadly Benghazi-{HE DID NOTHING} He would be toast.
Now he is dry toast that we are stuck with for 3 years.

[hit and run]

TK:
Danube came in fists of furry style

[narciso]

So 39 Dems were the upper limit of sanity, what else is new,

[Threadkiller]

Furry!

Hahahaha!!!

[Jack is Back!]

Yeah, what the hell does he know?

[narciso]

Lol, this seems more of a "Pinky and the Brain' production, with Pinky as part of the design team.

[Account Deleted]

maryrose,

Think of him as a rotting, very painful Democrat tooth which cannot be pulled for three years. Now, don't you want to have as many decaying Democrats as possible pulled while you can? Wouldn't a nice, clean GOP implant be preferable to taking a chance on not being able to pull a decaying Democrat when you want to?

[Old Lurker]

My state of MD just keeps sending our best and brightest to DC.

Did I just hear correctly on the radio that Steny Hoyer now says that Obama's promise about keeping you plan was said precisely correctly, but that some people hearing him reached the wrong, more expansive, conclusion?

That's gotta help.

[narciso]

Another 'Pinky' initiative goes for naught:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/15/us-syria-crisis-chemical-idUSBRE9AE0I620131115

[rse]

I just want everyone to remember that John Goodlad, a radical ed prof I wrote about in book, told a gathering of fellow radicals that if the American people understood where Obama was going with education they would be more upset than they were about Obamacare.

That disastrous press conference yesterday makes it much easier to get through to people who did not want to hear it that this crowd lies to get its transformational change. And uses taxpayer dollars to bribe anyone it needs to shut up or go along.

[narciso]

Just a nudge, nudge;

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/11/14/administration-offering-insurers-obamacare-bailout/#.UoZ9S2TWFk-

[narciso]

Well true, rse, both are operating systems, one more pervasive then the other.

[Jack is Back!]

The Greatest Political Reversal in Memory.

Mine isn't that great but does anyone have a better example?

[clarice]

On a persona note if anyone knows of a decent body repair shop and used car dealership in the Pembroke Pines Fla area, pls let me know. Mom mom disoriented with illness and against my admonition took her car out and drove into a tree. We need to get some minor repair work donw on it and sell the car as she won't be allowed to drive any longer per the local cop I spoke to.

[Jack is Back!]

Clarice,

What make of car? Many dealers down there who do collision work. May be best to let them handle it plus the resale.

[maryrose]

clarice:
I am so sorry to hear this. I hope your mom is all right. This is a difficult time when a parent has to give up a part of their independence. I am thinking of you.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Obama says it right, 300Million Americans hear it wrong... yeeeeah,....riiiiight... that'll play.

Billy J Clinton must facepalm when he hears stuff like that-- "can't anyone lie around here!?"

[Dave (in MA)]

I just want to add that I'm filled with a white hot rage at those climate frauds who killed the world's oldest animal to try to support their ignorant propaganda posing as science. daddy linked it last night.

Did they at least fry it up afterwards?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Fry it?... nah... put it on ice, a little Tabassco, slurp Ming right down.

[Dave (in MA)]

Jack is Back, Cruz should be behind Joe Wilson (R-SC, not Plame's house husband) in the apology line.

[Danube on iPad]

"We need both of you to celebrate with us as the emperor's lack of clothes is revealed."

Well said, Maryrose. Will do.

I am encouraged enough to believe that the Fnork and the Tea Party can and should unite around a battle cry in both '14 and '16: "elect us and we'll repeal this thing." Of course it would be nice to have a general outline of something somewhat different from the status quo ante to phase in after this horrible law is gone.

This narcissistic bastard can now see an inkling of what his legacy is going to be.

[Some Guy]

Still up on White House website:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei/keepit

[Some Guy]

...and Nancy Pelosi's website:

http://www.democraticleader.gov/news/reports/whatquotemarks-health-care-reform-bill-you

[clarice]

Thanks, guys. This is a difficult time for her. All her children live far away, and she refuses to move or have home care. This will now make it easier for us to persuade her to change though it is hard for her. JiB that's a good tip. I don't remember the make of the car.

[Old Lurker]

OK, LUN are the Dem leaders doubling down via the Weekly Standard.

I suggest you wait until cocktail hour, say drink #2, before watching the video. My guy Steny is about the third liar in. He pretty much says right out that the problem with the old policies is that they don't cost enough to provide sufficient resources to the pot.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Clarice-- best to you and your mom.

[Jack is Back!]

Clarice,

Find out if you can and let me know. I will do the rest.

[AliceH]

It does seem a bit amazing to me that a mere 5%/3%/2% of people whose plans are getting canceled/transitioned are somehow having this enormous effect upon not just politicians but reporters and pundits.

Sure, there are also some formerly uninsured folks discovering that even after welfare offsets they'll have to pay out of pocket for stuff, but still. The vast majority (nearly 70%, right?) are those covered under group plans. Some have seen their contribution rates increased, but in general, there's been little impact there.

So here we are - somehow a cohort smaller than the tea party has all of ACA in death throes. I really didn't expect this much reversal of fortune from the merest first round of change.

[Miss Marple]

clarice,

As I am 65, I keep this in mind. My father took himself out of the driving population when he had a stroke and had trouble distinguishing left from right. He was 72. Fortunately e all lived close and I would show up to take him to the doctor, grocery, etc.

My grandad, however, would not give up his car and drove until he was 99. He once ran off the road and was upside down in an icy ditch with his dog. Didn't phase him, and he just got it fixed and drove on. (This was my mother's dad.)

I have a horror of causing trouble for my kids. I told my sister if I start doing loony stuff she is to remind me that I asked her to tell me.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

OL-- I just can't watch stuff like that, so I'll take your word for it. So Steny says we are all too stoopid to figure out how to finace our own healthcare costs, and the dems have to sit on a gigantic pile of more expensive plans and dole out the money they way they see fit. They've all gone Full Stupid. I doubt Billy J and HildaBeast want to take the Dem Party over anymore.

[peter]

hit @ 4:17!

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

AliceH@5:01-- all you say is very true. I think what nailed Obummer/Dems with persuadbles over "Keep your Plan" was the Lies, the persistent and now proven lies. The vast majority of people with group plans now assume, they'll get it in the neck just like the Individual plan holders got it-- and they are right about that. So the persuables are now assuming the worst, and when they see the group rate increases and plan cancelations starting next summer, and taxes collected from uninsured after March 1st, it would get worse and worse for the Dems. That's why I assume Obummer will Delay all mandates until after '14 elections.

[Jack is Back!]

OL,

Ever been to one of Steny's picnics?

[Marlene]

My Mom took her NH license test and passed..Written,vision and driving. Now that Dad has passed,she is running the roads and we aren't pleased.When we went to visit last month,I pleaded with her not to drive in the snow and ice this winter. It is the last bit of freedom for the elderly. My mother-in-law had an accident last year,only the car was damaged,thank goodness. Good Luck,clarice!

[Porchlight]

Best wishes, Clarice. I know it is tricky. A co-worker and her husband had a very similar situation with the husband's mother. Fortunately they were able to convince her to give up the car.

[Old Lurker]

Pretty much, NK.

[Marlene]

MM, I told our daughter if I start acting like either of her grandmothers when I'm 80, just put me in the nursing home with the good drugs.

[clarice]

Thanks. JiB as soon as I get the health and care issues under control, I'll figure out the car and get back to you. The local police won't let her drive any more so I won't have that issue.

[Old Lurker]

No JiB.

[Some Guy]

The vast majority (nearly 70%, right?) are those covered under group plans. Some have seen their contribution rates increased, but in general, there's been little impact there.

I don't believe that is true at all.

Everyone who I have spoken to say there’s been radical changes in their employer plans each year since 2009. Insurance companies have been raising rates while baking-in and bracing for ACA.

[Jack is Back!]

OL,

Its usually held in Oxon Hill. Went once when I was in DC as a lobbyist because I had to but it was pretty much a fun experience since all the food and drinks were on on him and most of the people were there for that and not Steny.:)

[narciso]

Sorry to hear that clarice, is she ok, we deal with a place all the way down in Little Havana, when we have dings of that nature,

Steny is more old school democrat, but he really can't go against the netroots, which are as organized a faction as the blue dogs.

[Some Guy]

Clarice,

The one thing you’ll have to do on the car front is find out where it is right now. If it’s been towed somewhere you could be facing some astronomical impound or storage fees if you let it sit in a police impound or tow company lot.

Just FYI.