The American Spectator : It's Maureen in America Again

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It’s Maureen in America Again

The sneering Ms. Dowd finds herself outcommunicated.

Especially after bad days, liberals like to go to columnists like Maureen Dowd at the New York Times for some reassurance that everything’s fine with liberalism and it’s just the rest of us who are a bad mix of weird, greedy, ethnocentric, dumb and scary.

Like a lighthouse in a storm, Dowd unfailingly guides lost-at-sea liberals back to the safe port of bigger government, political sneering, higher taxation, centralized planning and economic envy.

Here was Ms. Dowd’s instant analysis on the morning after the nation’s voters delivered a stunning and nationwide defeat to Democrats: “Even though it was predicted, it was still a shock to see voters humiliate a brilliant and spellbinding young president, who’d had such a Kennedy-like beginning.”

It’s more accurate to report that the “spellbinding” phase ended about two years ago when all the balloons and canned stadium speeches were put away and the real job of governing had to begin. Clearly, the thrill is long gone.

Regarding the “brilliant” part, Dowd failed to acknowledge that President Obama was far from brilliant in putting the jobs issue, the top concern for voters, on the back burner while he wasted two years trying to ram an unpopular health reform bill through Congress.

Ms. Dowd is arguing that Obama remains as brilliant and spellbinding as ever and the people are just too dim-witted and propagandized to recognize it.

“Republicans,” she asserted, “outcommunicated a silver-tongued president who was supposed to be Ronald Reagan’s heir in the communication department.”

First, Obama is declared “Kennedy-like,” and then Reaganesque. Simply the best, doubled!

In fact, President Obama delivered dozens of major speeches to promote the Democrats’ version of health reform. His problem was that the more he talked the more the public turned against what he was saying — the opposite of the impact President Reagan generally produced when he argued a position.

Rather than a matter of communication or being “outcommunicated,” Obama failed because he and his Congressional allies were trying to sell a bad product.

The nation’s nasty Republicans and conservatives, concluded Dowd, were “able to persuade a lot of Americans that the couple in the White House was not American enough, not quite ‘normal,’ too radical, too Great Society.” Further, they were able to persuade a lot of Americans that both Obamas were given a strong overdose of arrogance and self-importance in college, that all their “Ivy League schooling had made them think they knew better than the average American folks, not to mention the Founding Fathers.”

Dowd got it right about the perception of Ivy League superiority and haughtiness. That seems to be the natural reaction to what Michelle Obama declared in 2008 — “Let me tell you something — for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country.”

A long-running lack of pride in America is simply not something that’s felt by non-Harvard “average American folks.”

Barack Obama, similarly, when asked while attending a European summit in 2009 if he believed in American exceptionalism, replied, “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that Brits believe in British exceptionalism and Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.” As Michael Barone put it, “In other words, not at all.”

Ms. Dowd’s description on the morning after of the previous night’s political winners? Simply “a lot of conservative nuts.” Quite a catty, bitter and erroneous depiction of events by a top columnist at the so-called “paper-of-record.”

I’m more positive about President Obama getting his wings clipped. I think it’s healthy for people to increase their skepticism about someone who declared, speaking of himself, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

About the Author

Ralph R. Reiland is the B. Kenneth Simon professor of free enterprise and an associate professor of economics at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (212) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Booger | 11.8.10 @ 6:12AM

From the desk of President B. Hussein Obama:

Dear Citizens,

It has come to My attention that you did not vote in your own best interests in the elections held throughout this country last Tuesday. While My loyal servants Pelosi and Reid were successful in retaining their seats, many of My loyal acolytes at lower levels were robbed of their seats when the Republicans apparently managed to deceive enough of you to ensure a temporary victory for themselves. I must admit that I am terribly disappointed in your conduct in this matter, but perhaps I can use this as a teachable moment for you. Pay close attention, as I am going to use My great communication skills to clear this matter up before you embarrass yourselves again in the future.

First of all, you cannot begin to improve your lot in life until you learn proper communication skills. You have regressed considerably in this past election. Quite frankly, what we have here is a failure to communicate. I suppose some of you who adhere to the Tea-bagger movement actually desire to see the failure of My Great New Society for the Elimination of Poverty, Racism, Islamophobia, Homophobia and Obesity. Well, there is little I can say to convince a bunch of beer-bellied rednecks to change their ways. There may, however, be help for the rest of you.

The main communication skill which you need to improve is your ability to listen. Apparently you, the american people, have difficulty in listening to what I, your Great Leader, have to say. If you were truly listening, you would understand that I have given you your one true chance at redemption from the sin of your founding fathers. It is I, and only I, who give you the opportunity to renounce the bigoted, racist, fundamentalist, ignorant, superstitious trash that Jefferson, Madison, Washington, etc. foisted off on this ignorant nation. I believe this is called "interference" by those of us who are enlightened enough to have taken a university course in communication theory. You let the petty, misguided notions of these "founding fathers" interfere with my explanation of the necessity for greater deficit spending to spur the economy, centralized control of health care for the greater good, and the need to reject the bigoted "judeo-christian" belief system that has infested this country. Quite frankly, you must learn to put this interference aside and learn to listen. It is clear that it is you, the great unwashed who are not listening, who are causing this communication problem.

Not only do you not listen to me, you insist on listening to those whom you should ignore. You tune in to the ridiculous, racist rants of Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly and their assorted ilk, and actually take that garbage seriously. You are like spoiled little children who eat nothing but happy meals stuffed with red meat and french fries, and then cannot understand why you are so fat, bloated and unattractive. Well, I am here to be arugula for your ears. Get off of that red meat you see on Fox News, and tune in to the vegetables, nuts and fruits of MSNBC and CNN. That will do a lot right there to fix your communication problem.

It is also clear to Me that some of you simply lack the intelligence to be able to accept the superior wisdom of My grand design for your lives. While I continuously assure you that I have the greatest concern for the welfare of you, the little people, you still seem to distrust My motives and actions. The only way for you to solve your communication problem in this matter is to get out of denial. That's right, you are in denial. You deny My superior intellect, wisdom and compassion. If you will simply learn to recognize My superior mind and morals for what they are and submit to Me, things will go much easier for you. Quite frankly I grow weary of having to constantly remind you of how superior I am to you little people. I suppose I could have Biden come out and explain it to you for awhile, but once he gets started even I can't shut him up.

So what can you do to fix your communication problem? Quite simply, shut up and do what you're told. Recognize your betters, and act accordingly. Remember, my followers are from the Federal Government and they are here to help. Accept this, believe this, obey this. This is the key to your becoming effective communicators. The sooner you get on board with this, the smoother things will go.

Just as a side note, I have decided I will err on the side of caution and take some small responsibility for our communication problems. In order to rectify them, I have fired My old teleprompter and retained the services of a new model. The new model is manufactured in China, and I have been assured it is the most up-to-date model available, far superior to my old one. The Chinese manufacturer has assured Me that it has a built in system for handling those of you who fail to take My advice on honing your communication skills; and that this system has been tested extensively and successfully on the Falun Gong. I look forward to seeing many of you at My next speaking engagement.

Sincerely,

President for Life B. Hussein Obama

wodiej| 11.8.10 @ 6:41AM

lol.....sadly, this mirrors Obama's narcissism and he truly believes he is superior and should not be questioned.

mickeymat| 11.8.10 @ 7:02AM

Thank you. Very creative and on point.

chuck| 11.8.10 @ 7:28AM

This one is so on the mark, it is scary!

Charles| 11.8.10 @ 8:02AM

Keep 'em coming, Booger- I'm saving every one.

Edward White| 11.8.10 @ 8:15AM

"Let me tell you something -- for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country."

Michelle was, of course, expressing her emotional response to millions of Americans who looked beyond race to support her husband for President of the U.S.

As for health reform, President Obama tried to initiate change, however flawed. And there will be a few flaws in any attempt at health reform. But there are terrible problems with our health system as it is now.

Let's see what the Republicans can do about health reform. Something has to be done about the rising medical costs in this country, and you right wingers know it.

I am waiting to see what SPECIFICALLY the Republicans have in mind for HEALTH REFORM.

Yes, I am waiting . . .

All I've heard so far from Republicans is obfuscation.

stephanie| 11.8.10 @ 8:21AM

Edward, can you list some of those problems that our healthcare has? Outside of being too expensive, please.

skedaddle| 11.8.10 @ 8:45AM

Now, stop tormenting Edward. You know he doesn't have specifics, only talking points from his masters. You've pointed out more problems (expense) than poor Edward.

Edward White| 11.8.10 @ 9:04AM

Here are 10:

1. We spend the most. We spend more than any other country in the world. In 2005, our per capita -- so, per person -- spending was $6,697. The next highest in the study was Canada, at $3,326. And remember -- that's "mean" spending, so it's the amount we spend divided by our population. But unlike in Canada, about 16 percent of our population doesn't have insurance, and so often can't use the system. These facts should set the stage for all numbers that come after: Every time you see a data point in which were dead last, or not leading the pack, remember that we spend twice as much as any of our competitors.

2. We don't pay doctors according to the quality of their care. One of the first questions is "percent of primary care practices with financial incentives for quality" -- in other words, how many doctors are paid, in part, according to the quality of the care they deliver. In the United Kingdom, the number is 95 percent. In Australia, it's 72 percent. The U.S. scores lower than anyone else, at 30 percent. Similarly, electronic medical records -- which both increase the quality of care and lower its cost -- have 89 percent penetration in the U.K., 79 percent in Australia, 98 percent in the Netherlands, and 28 percent in America. On both these metrics, we perform miserably.

3. Our wait times are low because many of us aren't getting care at all. It's true, Americans do have short waits for non-elective surgeries. Only 4 percent of us wait more than six months. That's more than in Germany and the Netherlands, but considerably less than the Canadians (14 percent) or the Britons (15 percent). But our high performance on the waiting times only account for individuals who get the care they need. Our advantage dissipates when you see the next question, which asks how many patients skip care due to cost. And here, America is far worse than anywhere else.
In just the past year, a full 25 percent of us didn't visit the doctor when sick because we couldn't afford it. Twenty-three percent skipped a test, treatment, or follow-up recommended by a doctor. Another 23 percent didn't fill a prescription. No other country is even close to this sort of income-based rationing. In Canada, only 4 percent skipped a doctor's visit, and only 5 percent skipped care. In the U.K., those numbers are 2 percent and 3 percent. Few of our countrymen are waiting for the care they need, that much is true. But that doesn't mean they're getting it quickly. Rather, about a quarter of us aren't getting it at all.

Indeed, 19 percent of Americans were unable, or had serious problems, paying medical bills in the last year. Comparatively, no other country was even in the double digits. This is part of why we perform well on the waiting-times metric. In other countries, the disadvantaged wait longer for their care, and so show up in the data tracking wait times. In our country, they disappear from that measure, because they never get the care at all. You don't wait for what you're not receiving. So their wait times show up as "zero," when they should really be something akin to infinite. And would you prefer to wait four months for your surgery, or never get it at all?

4. Most of us don't have a regular physician. One might expect, given what we pay, that our care would at least be more central and convenient. But it's not so. Of everyone surveyed, Americans were the least likely to report a doctor or general practitioner they routinely saw. As a result. Americans are the most likely to say their doctor doesn't know important information about their medical history, which has obvious implications for care quality, medical errors, etc.

5. Our care isn't particularly convenient. Nor is medical service more convenient for Americans to access. On such questions as whether your doctor has early morning hours, evening availability, or weekend slots, we're not trailing the pack, but we're not in the lead, either. On evening hours, for instance, we lag behind Australia, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. On same day appointments, Only 30 percent of Americans report that they can access a doctor on the very day they need one, as opposed to 41 percent of Britons and 55 percent of Germans. And a full 67 percent of Americans -- more than in any other country -- say it's difficult to get care on nights, weekends, or holidays with resorting to the emergency room, where care is costlier and, if your injury is not grievous, less efficient.

6. Our doctors don't listen to us. But maybe the amount we're paying comes in customer service -- maybe our doctors spend more time with us, are more reassuring, are more attentive to our cases. After all, we basically like the care we get. Our overall self-evaluation of the treatment we receive is solidly in the middle of the pack, with 70 percent expressing satisfaction -- which means we're less satisfied than the Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders, but 5 percent above the Britons, and well above the Germans or Dutch. But when you ask for specifics, we do a bit worse.
Americans are the least likely to report that their doctors explain things in ways they understand (though the spread on this question is rather small) or say doctors spend enough time with them (56 percent of us say they do, as compared to 70 percent of Germans). We're the most likely to report that test results or medical records were unavailable during our scheduled appointments and, along with the Germans, the most likely to say that our doctors ordered tests that we'd already had done. On the bright side, 78 percent of us say our regular doctor was "informed and up-to-date" about follow-up care after a hospital visit.

7. We have high rates of chronic conditions. Aside from the surprisingly unhealthy Australians, Americans have the highest rate of chronic disease. And this isn't only a comparative problem; our high rates of chronic disease are a massive cost-driver, attributable, according to the research of Ken Thorpe, for about 2/3rds the rise in health spending over the past few decades.

8. … But we're not treating them properly. So given the high prevalence of such diseases, and the pressures they exert on our system, you'd hope our system had evolved so as to treat these diseases more effectively.
Not so. One of the big issues with chronic disease is coordination of care. Illnesses like diabetes and kidney failure have so many manifestations, and require so much maintenance, that it's critical for care providers to have a full picture of what treatments are being received, what the patient's medical history is, what therapies they will and will not follow, etc. And for that reason, it's critical for the patients to have a single medical home – a regular care center where their case is understood, tracked, and treated. Sadly, we're tied with the Canadians for the lowest percentage reporting a single "medical home."

Worse,we're far and away the likeliest to report spending more than $500 out-of-pocket on prescription drugs annually. That's a problem, as higher out-of-pocket costs mean more of us going without prescriptions, which means less maintenance of conditions and, thus, more cost when our chronic illnesses balloon into catastrophic health events. Indeed, 42 percent of Americans with chronic conditions -- the exact same percentage who report paying more than $500 for drugs -- report skipping care, drug doses, or doctor's appointments due to cost. That's cheaper for them in the short-term, as they can spend some of the money on food or rent. It's more expensive for us, however, as we pick up the huge bill when they end up in the hospital in full cardiac arrest.

9. We're frequent victims of medical, medication, and lab errors. Along with Australians, Americans are the most likely to report a medical, medication, or lab error, with 20 percent saying they've experienced one of the above over the past year. For those of us with chronic diseases, the rates are even higher. There are many reasons for this, ranging from our low adoption rate of electronic medical records to our splintered care system. But the effects are bad for our health and, needless to say, bad for our insurance rates. Conservatives make a huge deal out of medical malpractice claims, but studies show that our high rate of lawsuits is due to our high rate of medical error. The crisis isn't just in the courtrooms, it's on the operating tables.

10. Most of us are dissatisfied with our current system. In health polling, happiness with the system is generally measured through a three-answer question: Does your system merely need minor changes, as it works pretty well? Does it need fundamental changes? Or does it need to be rebuilt? Of all the countries surveyed -- including the supposedly dystopic U.K. and Canada -- Americans are the least likely to report relative satisfaction, and the most likely to call for a fundamental rebuilding. Only 16 percent of us are happy. In Canada and the U.K., that number is 26 percent. In the Netherlands, it's 42 percent. Meanwhile, 34 percent of Americas want to completely rebuild. Only 12 percent of Canadians say the same, and only 15 percent of U.K. residents want a new system. So paying more than twice as much as anyone else, we have the lowest satisfaction with our health care system. Lower than the countries with waiting lines. Lower than Germany, and Australia, and New Zealand.
And perhaps this shouldn't be a surprise

Rocin| 11.8.10 @ 9:13AM

Haha, the first 9 can only get worse when run by the government;
Only #10 is up for grabs. (Although I think I know which way that one's going!)

tdiinva| 11.8.10 @ 10:05AM

Nice talking points.

I will start with some real facts like the Cancer survival rates in the United States are the highest in the world. Same for heart attacks. All the reported differences in so-called outcomes are product of socio-cultural factors like our murder rate (there are more murders in Obama's old state senate district then in the UK and Canada combined) and the fact that our high fatality rate is higher the rest of the world because we drive 2-3 times as much. Our reported infant mortality rate is higher because we count ever infant that takes a breath as live birth while the rest of the world waits a few days plus they don't have many "crack" babies or as much child abuse as we do. Take those socio-cultural characteristics out of the equation and then we have best medical outcomes.

The lack of health insurance does not equal the lack of first rate medical care. My son's old nanny recently lost her job and has no health insurance. She has degenerative arthritis in both knees and needs to have knee replacements. On the Monday after Thanksgiving she will be having both knees replaced at a hospital in Philidelphia for a nominal co-pay. The rest is free. She had this surgery scheduled within a month. In the UK the NHS has stopped doing most hip and knee replacements because the system has collapsed into third world status. If you are a cancer patient in distress on the weekend tough, you self medicate. Great system there. In the rest of the socialist paradise medical systems a something like knee replacements has a 12-18 month waiting list.

In the real American healthcare system charities pay for medical services when the patient can't. In state run systems only the ruling elite get real medical care. Everybody else gets substandard care and eventually like the UK they get third world care.

Dixon Stubbs| 11.8.10 @ 11:42AM

"My son's old nanny recently lost her job and has no health insurance. . ."

Lost her job.

One thing for sure: You did not offer one penny to help your son's old wornout nanny, did you?

I know your type.

tdiinva| 11.8.10 @ 12:12PM

I am sure my charitable giving exceeds yours by a factor of 10.

David Munro| 11.8.10 @ 3:36PM

Bravo madam, bravo!

John| 11.8.10 @ 6:31PM

"I know your type."

And you have told us yours, Cad.

codyjames| 11.8.10 @ 10:53PM

my nanny's husband lost his job and for 2 years while he was unemployed, we paid for health care insurance for she & her husband. we gave up having things we needed for our family to help take care of hers. show me a liberal who's done that for a household employee (for whom we also paid 100% of her social security tax and gave her unlimited paid sick days, 2 weeks of paid vacation/yr, a car, car insurance, and 10-12 paid holidays/yr).

Bladerunner2010| 11.8.10 @ 4:44PM

Excellent! Bravo!

Appleby| 11.9.10 @ 5:41AM

Wait times in Canada are so long that most critically ill patients are desperately fund-raising and mortgaging their lives away to get the money to come to the States for treatment. A 10 hour wait in the ER is considered normal, and we have had cases of people dying unnoticed in the ER after more than 24 hours with nobody paying any attention to them at all. I went to the audiologist once after an F1 race and heard the receptionist telling a patient that he couldnt have an MRI for 4 months; the distressed man asked what he should do and she shrugged and said *Wait. Or save up your money and go to Buffalo and get one the next day.* Many people here die on waiting lists; the ones you quote as having short wait times are Apparatchiks or Nomenklatura -- or sports figures -- who can jump the queue. (When there was a tremendous shortage of H1N1 vaccine and proles were waiting in the parking lot for 3 hours in long lines, the Calgary Flames hockey club got a personal delivery to their dressing rooms of all the vaccine they wanted -- for not only themselves, but their families).

Before you regurgitate talking points about Canada, you should come up here and find out the truth.

Mike Oxbig| 11.9.10 @ 6:42AM

"She had this surgery scheduled within a month. In the UK the NHS has stopped doing most hip and knee replacements because the system has collapsed into third world status. "

B***s***

tdiinva| 11.9.10 @ 12:01PM

Perhaps you should look into the new governments healthcare cuts

WSK| 11.17.10 @ 12:31PM

Not BS... it is factually true. ....and doesn't begin to scrape the surface. My family lives in Germany ansd Austria and the tales I could tell.......

skip| 11.8.10 @ 10:54AM

Stop stealing Maureen Dowd's talking points and maybe you won't seem so unintelligent and dishonest, Edward White.

Occam's Tool| 11.8.10 @ 11:30AM

We do NOT lag behind New Zealand, no matter what your stats say. I was a senior medical consultant there, and I came back partially because the standard of care for my family was quite low. Sorry. Makes me suspicious of your numbers.

Americans tend to be dissatisfied people compared to Europeans, who are sheep.

Trish| 11.8.10 @ 7:48PM

'compared to Europeans, who are sheep.' Bingo. The Europeans do not understand us precisely because most of us are not sheep. We refuse to be led as sheep to the leftists' slaughter. That is what Dowd hates.

carnot| 11.9.10 @ 6:48PM

given recent events....they clearly aren't sheep when it comes to entitlements!!!!

Aindyin| 11.8.10 @ 1:56PM

In responce to #10. In the last election most of us showed we were dissatisfied with our current congress so we got rid of it. Edward you need to deal with that and quit spouting off stupid liberal messages about out health care system. I have lived in many of the countries you mention and my wife is from one of them. Simply stated for your education THEY SUCK thats why peaple move here and we dont move there. If you like their system so much then go and please dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

JohnLeeHooker| 11.8.10 @ 4:00PM

I'm really surprised by your assessment of your coverage. I'm 61 and have NEVER had anything approaching the care you describe.

If you want single payer or subsidized care, fine. Just don't take mine away so you can get yours.

Rich | 11.9.10 @ 3:49AM

"If you want single payer or subsidized care, fine. Just don't take mine away so you can get yours."

Thank You John...

Doug| 11.8.10 @ 4:10PM

1. We spend the most. - We have the best health care as a result.

2. We don't pay doctors according to the quality of their care. - No kidding! Beauraucrats making decisions they know nothing about, intruding into the free marketplace. One can save ~35-50% by paying a doctor directly (typically).

3. Our wait times are low because many of us aren't getting care at all. - No, our wait times are low in proportion to Federal intrusion and, oh yeah, the free (sort of) market.

4. Most of us don't have a regular physician. - Right, because the insurance companies get in the middle.

5. Our care isn't particularly convenient. - Baloney! I can go to a 24 hour insta-care or emergency room any time I desire. Doctors don't do housecalls (typically) anymore because their costs are too high (read: Gov't mandated insurance tom foolery)

6. Our doctors don't listen to us. - Liberals don't listen to ideas that work either. Nothing new there. They often cannot because their hands are tied by (gasp!) trial lawyers and mandates imposed on them. For example the feds track how many pills doctors hand out. Get out of the prescription 'range' and they come knocking.

7. We have high rates of chronic conditions. - Uh, personal responsibility and too-cheap care perhaps? For example, How's about letting people pay their own way to help cut cost down like the rest of us do? And, of course, the freeloaders, illegal or not. Ever go to an emergency room late at night? I have. Do a survey of the crowd. Lots of people obviously looking for free healthcare - the hospitals CANNOT turn anyone away.

8. But we're not treating them properly. - How's about overwhelemmed and underpaid and butrnt out because the system is abused? Oh yeah, personal responsibility again. High drug costs? Sure, every layer adds costs. Cut out the layers and lwayers for instance.

9. We're frequent victims of medical, medication, and lab errors. - Too many tests driven by lawsuit fear, too few new doctors because the legal burdens drive smart & good doctors away perhaps?

10. Most of us are dissatisfied with our current system. - Not true. Most are happy with their current healthcare and do NOT want Obama or Hillary Care 'type' products. Some 65% of the total American electorate.

Bill| 11.8.10 @ 10:06PM

If we wanted health costs to be cheaper we would have just followed Texas's lead and had tort reform. Add to that being able to purchase insurance across state lines and we could have done what we set out to do without 2000 pages of this albatross of a bill that Pelosi & Reid stuffed down our throats

MikeD| 11.8.10 @ 4:37PM

You are doing the same thing that the rest of the "Liberal Elite" does: quoting statistics and percentages, numbers, cases, etc... WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY SOURCES. You quoted exactly ONE source, one Ken Thorpe. (Whoever HE IS) That doesn't do it. You can tell me figures don't lie, but liars certainly can figure.

I have a nasty uncurable disease that will kill me. It was supposed to have done so roughly seven years ago, but I'm still here, no thanks to Obama and his deceptive plan to get rid of the Baby Boomers and confiscate our resources.

I have also worked in 78 (SEVENTY-EIGHT!) countries, and our healthcare system is the envy of every person in every country that has a national health care system; especially the Canadians you wax poetically over. You may have used lots and lots of words, but you said nothing of substance. I lived in London for two years and all I heard, and saw, was the complete contempt the Brits hold for their abominable rationing system. These are the same governmental people who falsified their data to conjure up global warming.

For your own benefit, read the healthcare bill; and the deeply flawed (EVIL?) Stimulus bill that preceeded it. These two bills are exercises in unlawful governmental power grabs by Obama and his thugs who just want to control our lives. If you actually read it, even you would be appalled. Obama and his thugs are trying to control our very lives. If the system were law, I'd be getting nothing but pain killers instead of treatment. You could very well be next. Thank your lucky stars that the American electorate wasn't quite as dumb as Obama and the Dems thought.

George| 11.8.10 @ 4:50PM

Eddy boy, What planet are you on? I am 62 years old and just left my doctors office. My doctor of 6 years carefully listened to me as evident by the outcome of my visit. You are simply stating a position of someone from Canada or Briton where all of these points are true. Move to the country of your choice, that's your free choice.
But don't lie about our system to bring it down to the level of Briton or Canada!

Joseph| 11.8.10 @ 5:56PM

In 19 minutes, you were able to think up and type up 1,623 words? Why do I think you're getting your talking points from somewhere else or else haven't put too much thought into your screed?

GreginOkinawa| 11.9.10 @ 2:04AM

It's called copying and pasting...I sometimes save my blog writings for quick reply posts on other blogs.

jaye mallott| 11.8.10 @ 6:13PM

what a horse's ass you are.

beebop| 11.8.10 @ 7:26PM

" We don't pay doctors according to the quality of their care. One of the first questions is "percent of primary care practices with financial incentives for quality"

This from the bunch who think that teachers shouldn't be judged based upon their classroom success rate? I guess if doctors were union members you might revisit this?

Mike Oxbig| 11.9.10 @ 6:44AM

Wow, talk about an unwarranted assumption about what one person might think.

Mick| 11.8.10 @ 8:37PM

Just wanted to let everyone know that Ed's list is copied and pasted from another article. That is plagiarism Ed. What a good litle sheep you are for the DNC. Seminar poster.

arlo price| 11.8.10 @ 11:13PM

The obamagedon PIMP thugocracy sputters along.................

Probable seiu (sanctimonious, egotistical, ignorant, underling) faithful follower ed copied from:
http://www.prospect.org/cs/art....._is_so_bad

Try some INDEPENDENT thinking and research ed!!!

phil| 11.8.10 @ 8:38PM

Your stats are wrong. Totally made up because you are young and confused and well probably underemployed yourself........not to mention your ramblings are incoherent (got most of them from rolling stone I'd guess).

OBTW Wendy's called your late for work

old prgmr| 11.9.10 @ 2:23PM

Dear Mr. White:
You put a lot of effort in this response. For the most part you are exactly right. A general conclusion is that our current healthcare system is far too expensive and Americans use far too much of it. We are also a culture of self medication, our prescription drug costs are way too high because we depend far too much on these well publicized "magic remedies".

However, your lengthy presentation doesn't address how the chaotic and confusing Obamacare addresses any of these critical issues. The current bill, which should be trashed, is simply a huge revision to the current Healthcare Insurance system and addresses only the payment process and NOT THE COSTS.

There are some good ideas concerning quality of care in the bill, but there is far too much bureaucratic government intervention to mak any beneficial impact. Also, one reason WE have so much chronic illness problems is how we measure chronic illness as compared to the remainder of the World. But, I do agree our life styles are a problesm; also, not addressed by Obamacare.

Remember Obamacare is not focused on fixing our Healthcare cost, quality, delivery and access problems, but simply as the first massive step toward a total single payer Government Directed System. This is obvious when none of the meaningful aspects of the bill become active until 2014 or later. Right now, pre-existing conditions are still NOT covered; cost are rising, NOT falling; the uninsured are still NOT covered by cost effective insurance; government mandated pools are totallyINEFFECTIVE (too expensive with excessive mandated coverage); children are losing insurance coverage NOT being covered; etc; etc. You can't just lie to the people and convince the people of something they see everyday is NOT THE TRUTH.

ironhorzmn| 11.9.10 @ 6:37PM

Check this guy's sources. He's making unsupported, questionable and most likely misleading claims.

Last time I heard drivel like this it was taken from a German socialized healthcare site so agenda-driven that it ranked the US DEAD LAST in the world in healthcare.

Another such 'study' ranked ITALY over the US in healthcare.

Question every claim and demand proof.

renata| 11.11.10 @ 3:08PM

This is a long post filled with BS.
Distorted and fabricated statistics from questionable studies, including the ridiculous WHO nonsense that rates healthcare on the basis of how costs are shared instead of quality of care.

You are going to see a higher rate of persons in this country "reporting" lab errors because doctors are forced to practice defensive medicine. That means more tests for everything, which means it is more likely that you will at some point have a lab err on one of your tests.

Treatment of terminal illnesses has allowed patients to live longer than in other countries. That will, of course, increase the % of the population that has those illnesses-- but they are alive. In other nations, they are not as likely to receive the state-of-the-art treatment-- so they die. Lower % sufferring , but it is because they are no longer living.

You have managed to take up a lot of space with your lies and obfuscation of the real issues. Tort reform would reduce costs across the board, as would competition.

And your numbers are bogus as to what other countries spend per capita. There is much more expense involved in socialized medicine that is in different operating budgets. canada is reeling from the expenses of their program, and the Brits are trying to undo much of theirs. Our own experiment in Massachusetts is an expensive mess.

There is much more of your nonsense that can be refuted, but I have no more time to waste with you.

Your post is the typical liberal lie about healthcare.

Dr. Art| 11.12.10 @ 6:33AM

Edward,
two short words condense your post.
Bull $h-t!

Booger | 11.8.10 @ 9:10AM

1) Tort reform. Depending upon a physician's area of specialty, 10-25% of your bill may be malpractice insurance, mainly against frivolous suits. Reforms would include a loser pays system, the movement of class action suits to the Federal Court system rather than local "jackpot justice systems" in Mississippi, Alabama,etc. and legislative relief imposing liability limits. Not only do frivolous (Democrat specialty) lawsuits raise expenses, they have eliminated OB/GYN care in many areas.

2) The expansion of Health Savings Accounts and tax deductions for self-insured self-employed individuals.

3) Expanded corporate tax credits and legislative relief from excessive legal liability for research into new drugs/treatments.

4) Criminal prosecution for fraud at the Federal level for plaintiffs and attorneys seeking "jackpot justice" in obviously manufactured cases.

I believe all of these to be superior to rationing, bureaucratic interference with the doctor/patient relationship, and death panels. For whatever it's worth.

Cordially,

Booger

http://beautifulletters-bls.blogspot.com/

MacDaddy| 11.8.10 @ 2:47PM

You forgot opening of markets for interstate competition for insurance. Also, subsidies for med school tuition. Universal certification for physician's assistance and nurse practitioners. Relaxing of some drug certification standards by the FDA, tax breaks for capital investments by hospitals and clinics, etc. All of these things, Conservatives were ready to talk about last year before The One said, "I won the election."

Booger | 11.8.10 @ 9:10AM

2) The expansion of Health Savings Accounts and tax deductions for self-insured self-employed individuals.

3) Expanded corporate tax credits and legislative relief from excessive legal liability for research into new drugs/treatments.

4) Criminal prosecution for fraud at the Federal level for plaintiffs and attorneys seeking "jackpot justice" in obviously manufactured cases.

I believe all of these to be superior to rationing, bureaucratic interference with the doctor/patient relationship, and death panels. For whatever it's worth.

Cordially,

Booger

http://beautifulletters-bls.blogspot.com/

Bob K.| 11.8.10 @ 10:46AM

TO ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO WAIT FOR BOOGER'S INTERMINABLE COMMENTS AND LOVE TO COMMENT ON THEM, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT PROFESSOR REILAND WROTE A PRETTY GOOD ARTICLE!

dw| 11.8.10 @ 10:48AM

On #1...The over indulgence of law suits also causes physicians to over test their patients in anticipation of the impending litagation.

Marvin the Moron| 11.11.10 @ 3:32PM

Mr. Boogerman,

I am not from Mississippi or Alabama, but I couldn't help but cringe at your obvious denigration of their justice systems. I am sure that you can cite example after example of how the present day justice systems in these two states is far worse than other states in awarding "jackpots" such as ... say ... California.
Would you be so kind as to enlighten me?
Thank you.

Conservative Teamster| 11.8.10 @ 9:30AM

This may be hard for you to believe but many Americans feel that we do have the best health system in the world. I can't think of anywhere else I would rather have surgery or treatment. I guess you, Edward White would be off to the paradise of Cuba for your treatment of a health problem. I am sure in their great healthcare system they have the latest technology and medicines to treat their people, right? I know there are problems with our system, as there are with anything, but to throw out the whole thing would be ridiculous. Would you be willing to have tort reform? This alone would bring down some of the costs. How about not requiring hospitals to treat 'ILLEGAL" immigrants for free? How about really going after fraud and abuse in the medicare and medicaid systems. Whenever I read about someone being caught committing this type of fraud the story almost always states that the perpetrator was doing this 'for years'. Great oversight, huh? Also, would you oplease elaborate on the 'terrible problems' which exist in our healthcare system now. I look forward to you list.

Mike Oxbig| 11.9.10 @ 6:47AM

And I'd love to drive an Aston Martin: it doesn't mean that I'd want to pay for an Aston Martin when a Ford gets me from place to place just as well.

Jobe| 11.8.10 @ 9:32AM

Edward: Have you ever heard of TORT REFORM? And suppose, just suppose, that insurance companies were permitted to cross state lines to market their product? Do you think that these two changes might bring the cost of medical care down from it's astronomical height. And suppose the federal government and the state government stopped requiring reams of paper with every claim and doctors no longer had to pay the salaries of untold bureaucrats to fill out this paper work. Ah, but no! These reforms would not give the government more power, and that is the essence of obama's "health care reform".

Think about it, if you still can think. obamacare is not a "health care reform", it is a power grab. It was one when Hilary Clinton tried it and is is one now.

John Navratil| 11.8.10 @ 10:04AM

Return to fee-for-service with a major medical policy to handle real expenses. There is absolutely no reason that routine health care should be provided by insurance. All that does is add a third person in the room who provide no medical care and takes a 15-percent fee.

Whether such costs are paid in pre-tax or post-tax dollars is of no economic consequence, although the pre-tax incentive in this taxing environment can be an incentive to put cash away for medical costs.

Dai Alanye | 11.8.10 @ 6:59PM

Navratil has brought up the best and most simple way to significantly cut insurance costs, and probably overall costs as well. Not only that, but care will likely become more responsive to the individual.

Bob the Engineer| 11.8.10 @ 10:49AM

I can give one specific reform and that is tort reform. Doctors do way too many tests and procedures while practicing defensive medicine. If doctors have to pay six figure malpractice insurance premiums because of tort lawyers, then that cost must be passed on to the customers. Did you notice that Obama did not propose to nationalize malpractice insurance. That is because his trial lawyer cronies would not tolerate Medicare type payments for their services.

Ann| 11.8.10 @ 10:59AM

Dear Edward,

I don't want a government that can't run the DMV
or the post office without screwing things up and making things ridiculously lined with red tape to decide on my family's health care. Besides, when I am sure that BO, his family, Princess Pelosi and Prince Harry and all the dems who voted in favor of this disgraceful bill (and their families) will get the same health care they want to treat me and my family to, that is when I may consider it's okay for gov run health care.

Forever Marine| 11.8.10 @ 12:40PM

Ed,

You and many still don't get it. No, repeat NO government in health care. Not even from Republicans. Get rid of the already restrictive government boundaries and let the free market take it. As with car insurance, the competitiveness will drive the cost down, the technology up. America will still remain the best in the world.

paulc| 11.8.10 @ 3:38PM

Hey Edward have you heard of tort reform and being able to cross state lines to buy health ins. to name a couple.

Brian| 11.8.10 @ 5:44PM

When others recite that Obamacare is a good thing because there "are terrible problems with our health system as it is now", I am reminded that Democracy is a very poor form of government. It is just so much better than all the other forms.

Obama care is strongly disfavored by voters not because it is not perfect. It just appears to be so much worse than the current imperfect medical care system we have now.

Cyraneau| 11.8.10 @ 6:07PM

Give me a break. The Republicans met the president at a well televised conference during the height of the Health Care Debate. By all accounts the Republicans fielded a list of common sense, incremental ideas that would have saved money rather than make health care more costly. All of these ideas were rejected out of hand. Now we are told that all of what was claimed about deficit reduction and cost saving was a lie. Obama is a pathological liar. He governs in the model of African and South American despots: by edict and fiat. You will do this because I will it to be done.

phil| 11.8.10 @ 8:31PM

What will the republicans do for health care reform?...nothing I hope.

It was fine before

Move to Canada and let us know how it goes

Rocky| 11.8.10 @ 11:09PM

The problem with asking for specifically what must be done is the question then posits the premise that a program must be instituted. This is how Progressives develop their rationale for more government. Well let me give you a few specifics…

Give the same tax breaks to individuals as you do to employers. All insurance to be sold across state lines. Reduce corporate tax rates. Reduce Government spending. Oh, not specific enough…forgot I’m talking to liberal-progressives who insist that Government is the solution….

See my dear liberal-progressive friends the real problem isn’t that we don’t provide enough services or pay enough taxes. It is that the government has become too big a burden on the economy! Government IS the problem.

Michael Redbourn | 11.9.10 @ 7:24AM

Michelle is not just a racist but is a separatist too, and what's frightening is that she's Barak's wife.

They both listened to Rev Wright's anti-American rants for many years and Michelle obviously agrees with them.

Does Barak?

Yes, he most likely does.

If you haven't read Michelle's Princeton thesis or even parts of it, then time to do so now:

http://tiny.cc/mobama-is-a-racist

Zanadave| 11.9.10 @ 10:20AM

I agree with you that our health care system is too expensive. Perhaps (1) allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines without having to comply with 50 state regulatory monopolies and (2) requiring all medical malpracitce claims to be certified as valid by a medical review board before allowing litigation -- both modest GOP proposals -- would help bring our costs back in line. Lack of informed competition, built-in incentives to overuse health care, and excess defensive medicine to avoid lawsuits are what drive up the expense. I would like to think Republicans and Democrats could come together on items like these, but I won't hold my breath.

alanstorm| 11.9.10 @ 11:28AM

"Michelle was, of course, expressing her emotional response to millions of Americans who looked beyond race to support her husband for President of the U.S."

Looked BEYOND race? Doubt it strongly. The only reason this incompetent fool was elected was BECAUSE of his race. Specifically, the perverse racism of the left, who believed that voting for a black man as president would expiate whatever sins they had imagined themselves to be guilty of. Too bad they were unable to look beyond race to his abilities and achievements, which were (and are) nil, at least in any positiver sense.

former democrat| 11.9.10 @ 1:55PM

In response to Mrs. Obama's racist beliefs...I'll be proud of my country when African Americans vote on something other than race.
Obama's popularity has fallen greatly with all groups in the nation except for blacks.
Is it possible they are ignoring MLK's pleas about the content of character vs the color of skin?
The thing is, after Obama's misreable two years in the White House no one cares about the race card.
In fact, the only major racism I see is from the AA community vs the white community.
Good luck with that.

Josh Marihugh | 11.11.10 @ 2:52PM

"Millions of Americans looked outside race."

Patently false. Millions of Americans elected a bad candidate ONLY because of the color of his skin.

That is all.

Richard| 11.8.10 @ 11:57AM

So who is Booger? I bet he is none other that R. Emmet Tyrel.

irish19| 11.8.10 @ 12:10PM

Shouldn't that be "my demonic familiars Pelosi and Reid?"

cmwcapstone| 11.8.10 @ 3:34PM

Brilliant - ever thought about being a stand up comedian?

yamama| 11.8.10 @ 4:35PM

Thank you, thank you, Dear President. My Dear Leader.
Love it, well done. LOL

ms.apprehension| 11.8.10 @ 5:01PM

Booger,

Are you Paul Shanklin? While I'm reading your post I'm picturing Paul Shanklin and hearing his Obama impression.

You are most excellent.

Aqua Buddha| 11.8.10 @ 6:31PM

Help, save, pity and defend us, oh Great Leader. We humbly beseech you to forgive us bitter, gun-toting, religion-clinging rubes in flyover country.
Lead us, oh progressive shepherd, back onto the Great Liberal Plantation where we may be taxed and regulated by thee forever. Amen & Gobama'12

Bob Barre| 11.8.10 @ 7:35PM

You are GOOD!

Chuck| 11.8.10 @ 7:57PM

You are too liberal...... Michelle's statement never had the word 'REALLY' in it... which would have made much less hauty.

"Let me tell you something -- for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am 'really' proud of my country."

Remove 'really'.... this makes it as if she said 'AT ALL'.

"Let me tell you something -- for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am (AT ALL) proud of my country."

Wally| 11.8.10 @ 10:14PM

"...vegetables, nuts and fruits of MSNBC and CNN."
LOL!

SamAdams25| 11.8.10 @ 10:47PM

Outstanding parody, Sir! Unfortunately, it seems that this is the true attitude of our pathologically narcissistic President and his far left supporters.

All true American Patriots should get busy now. If you agree with the basic principles of the Tea Party Movement, then at the very least, go to a meeting of your local Tea Party and see for yourself what it is all about. If the Tea Party is not your cup of tea, then get involved in your local and state political system as an individual. This is how our candidates are chosen. You have as much right as the handful who usually decide who these candidates will be.

We cannot reclaim our great country from the sofa. We MUST become involved in an active way if we are to make any difference in how things are done. By all means, spend one hour a week telling your reps whether you support or oppose specific legislation. That is important, but we cannot allow a small handfull of folks to dictate our choices to us.

In the 5th District of Virginia, the Tea Parties have organized to attend local GOP meetings, and have successfully replaced all 11 Unit Chairs (county level), and ultimately the District Chair. We have effectively taken over the GOP in our District. We simply outnumbered that handfull of "establishment" folks who had been running the show. All it takes is participation and action. We ousted freshman lap-dog Tom Perriello, and helped the 9th District oust 18 year veteran Rick Boucher. Our compatriots in the Tidewater region also ousted freshman Glenn Nye. Our compatriots in the Northern (Beltway) District came within 500 votes of ousting Gerry Connelly. Three out of four ain't too shabby for a movement that's less than two years old.

Although the Virginia Tea Party Federation is pleased with the results of our efforts, the important point is that it CAN be done.

You are not alone. WE surround THEM. We have a way to go yet. We will not be satisfied until the "progressives" (socialists) are on the endangered species list. They only account for 20% of Americans anyway. Why should they be dictating policy to the rest of us? Yes, even they have a right to their say, but only in the context of their 1/5 of our population.

It's time that we take charge. Get involved, and make it happen!

mike| 11.11.10 @ 12:06PM

This Outstanding! TY!:)

Mike

LarryJo| 11.11.10 @ 4:41PM

Fantastic - is that you Rush??????

offensive| 11.13.10 @ 10:09PM

I ... I .... I could actually almost hear the lyrical tone of your melodious voice as I read this great leader! Thank you so for condescending to speak with me. I can hardly bear to wait to hear you read from the new teleprompter ... excuse me a moment sir. .... ROOOAULFFF

Doctor Right| 11.8.10 @ 6:20AM

Poor Maureen.

As she struggles with the dual indignities of irrelevance and menopause, I suppose this is the type of nonsensical drivel she'll be scribbling at the New York Slimes

Then again, it's not that much different than the nonsensical drivel she's always produced for the Slimes.

Like Mark Levin always says, Libs are fun when they're out of power.

Jobe| 11.8.10 @ 8:37AM

I am wondering how many operative brain cells this woman has. She has but a tenuous grasp of reality, and even that is slipping away. Perhaps blood is no longer reaching her brain.

How does any rational observer of the political developments of the last 18 months come up with the tripe that she wrote for the faux newspaper, the New York Times? Anyone who has ever respected this woman's intelligence has to be questioning his/her judgement after reading this ridiculous spewing of vacuous imbecility.

Bladerunner2010| 11.8.10 @ 4:51PM

Don't be too hard on poor old Mo, she's suffering from neurosyphilitic lesions and it really messes up her thinking.

Or what's left of it.

SamAdams25| 11.8.10 @ 10:58PM

A tenuous grasp on reality seems to be a common side-effect of Obama Kool-Aid, much like bad teeth in a meth addict.

Isn't it amusing that all of the "progressives" (socialists) are attributing the landslide repudiation of Obama and his policies to "messaging" after 294,000,000,000 speeches from that great (teleprompter) orator?

Don L| 11.8.10 @ 6:25AM

Such small people to not recognize my greatness. It's the Chicago version of "Honey, I just shrunk the voters!"

What a small man so worshipped by the likes of such as Ms. Dowd. I now understand the left's obsessive fascination with the snail darter.

Appleby| 11.8.10 @ 6:25AM

Name calling is not an argument. If they allow Obama back into the country, someone should clue him in that patronizing head-patting is not an argument either.

SamAdams25| 11.8.10 @ 11:10PM

Not to mention insulting the American voters as ignorant, redneck, racist, anti-semitic, bamboozled, or whatever other excuse.

I rode up to a Tea Party demonstration, when Obama came to Richmond, with an Israeli, and stood on the corner with a young black girl holding signs opposing Obama and Perriello, and we were still accused of being racist and anti-semitic. It's all BS smear tactics and lies. It's a pathetic sign of desperation

Kitty| 11.8.10 @ 6:33AM

Obama is not a spellbinding orator; he's not even a good reader. He would have failed my high school speech class, which was a requirement for all seniors in order to graduate.

ggoblue| 11.8.10 @ 6:43AM

thank god for stupid liberals...they just don't get it, and that is good.

they will keep pelosi, reid, and obama as the three faces of their party...and so the next election will be fought on the same battlegrounds...with democrats charging uphill into cannon fire!

they actually think that the republicans convinced the tea party of anything? as long as they tell themselves that lie, and believe it, they are doomed to minority status.

let us, as conservatives, continue to purge our party of its rinos...in this way we can sharpen the differences between the statists and the freedom loving mainstream of america which the tea party represents.

we only have to wrap ourselves in the constitution of the united states.

god bless america and onward to 2012!

i am ggoblue and i approved this message :)

irish19| 11.8.10 @ 12:19PM

Well said, sir or madam. 2010 was just the opening salvo. It took a long time to get here, it will take a long time to get back. Most people I have seen commenting whilst surfing the blogs realize this. That gives me a lot of hope for the future.

SamAdams25| 11.8.10 @ 11:42PM

Yes, irish19, this is indeed the first battle in the war.
Your perspective is right on time. Please allow me to bolster your hope.

First, last week's election proves that the American people are awakening to what is going on, and rising up against it. Secondly, we are realizing that a small group of people have been running our local and regional political parties as the rest of us have let them. We are realizing that we have the right to participate and have our voices heard. And that is starting to happen. More of us are becoming active participants, and discovering that we can indeed influence how our candidates are chosen. Is $10 worth of gas and a few hours of your time worth helping to change the direction of our country? When it is heading for a steep cliff, I'd say it's a no-brainer.

You are not alone, irish19. At the very least, go to your local Tea Party meeting to see what it's all about for yourself. You may very well find that they are not the extremists you've been told they are. Even if you don't feel like signing up, take what you do agree with away with you, and find like-minded folks to get together with. We don't have to all agree on everything to agree on the basic fundamentals.

There is a place for you, my brother (or sister), and regardless of what the libs say, we don't care about your color, your heritage, your age, sex, or weight. If you share our basic principles, we want you. We need you. You are welcome, and I will personally confront anyone who opposes you on any silly basis of ethnicity, sex, age or any other demographic category.

wodiej| 11.8.10 @ 6:45AM

Wow, such low expectations. Great communication is equated with using a teleprompter?

One of the biggest problems with liberalism is it embraces no accountability and no personal responsibility. Live and let live. Everyone get along, put a flower in your hair and light up. They are engulfed in a fog of fairy dust.

Kenny| 11.8.10 @ 6:54AM

Come on.

Who listens to Dowd, a frustrated and dimwitted old maid?

R Martin| 11.8.10 @ 8:07AM

She may indeed be frustrated, but she is not dimwitted. She is smart enough to make a living writing shockingly shallow thoughts and getting them published in a major newspaper. Yes, I may not listen to her, but I do read her, because I'm fascinated by her schtick. Most of her stuff is simply made up, as when she reports on conversations she could not possibly have heard.

In short, she represents entertainment value of the sort that can only exist under the wing of a biased, leftist media. In a free market her writing/logic skills could not hold a candle to our friend, Booger.

Richard| 11.8.10 @ 12:00PM

The first thing that we as conservatives must do is to quit allowing liberals like the NYT set issues for us. I don't give a care what Dowd or the NYT say!

CharlieEcho| 11.8.10 @ 7:05AM

Forget Ms. Dowd if we can. Our man in the whitehouse has no record. The no record he has he will not release. While he had time to pre-read and rehearse his speeches his rhetoric ran together fluently. Without the pre-read and rehearsal his talk just dribbles on. This is when he really has nothing of substance to say. He must go back to the cue cards and let others do his thinking.

mickeymat| 11.8.10 @ 7:08AM

If Barack Obama was all that Maureen says he is we, like Sherlock Holmes would have been given any number of small clues. Unfortunately for him, we have:

*Teleprompters
*Sealed academic records
*corpseman
*"Oreeon" rather than Orion
*The Austrian language
*The 57 states
*The tens of thousands killed by a tornado
*The revelation of buying in bulk
*The revelation of properly tire inflation
Brilliance? Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary.

Edward White| 11.8.10 @ 8:23AM

Obama was President of the Harvard Law Review.

Harvard Law School is notoriously difficult to get into. Annually, some 7,000 applications apply for some 500 seats. Applicant LSAT scores generally chart in the 98 to 99 percentile range, and GPAs average between 3.80 and 3.95.

Obama is a smart man. Stop trying to malign his intelligence.

Nolann Ryann| 11.8.10 @ 8:38AM

Ah yes of course he's brilliant. He proved it when he released his stellar grades. Oh that's right they are still sealed up in Yucca Mountain to protect us from his brilliance. It would intimidate all the unwashed lumpen proletariat and cause to swoon uncontrollably. I love how you liberals will fall for a pedigree in heart beat. Results don't matter it is all about where you attended. Style over substance once again.

Edward White| 11.8.10 @ 8:54AM

Harvard Law School would not have admitted Obama had he not been mentally eligible for its rigorous academic demands.

Have you passed a law exam? I have, and believe me, you have to have smarts to do so.

Stop bashing Obama's academic qualifications. He has them in spades.

John Navratil| 11.8.10 @ 10:08AM

You can guess at his grades, and I'll give you that his academic resume would indicate you are correct. But the secrecy does astound. Remember Bush's gentleman's C's (which, by the way, were mocked until it was revealed that Kerry's grades were marginally worse)? One doesn't hide A's.

Anthony| 11.8.10 @ 10:18AM

Oh Edward, don't be such a moron, will ya?
Harvard has admitted Kennedys and other dimwitted white elites for decades. The Kennedys et al benefit from a different form of affirmative action. And yes I know, it works with Rs as well, so spare me the smary comments about Bush.
As for Obozo, how he got into Columbia from Occidential, a stint of drug induced haze, admitted by Obozo himself, is still a mystery. Well, actually it's not.
Harvard? Well, can anyone say affirmative action and quotas, post grad?
Harvard is notoriously difficult to get into if you are a white male or Asian.
If Obozo has the qualifications "in spades", (your words) why are they hidden from the American public? And what exactly did he publish as head of the Harvard Law Review?
Finally, passing a law school exam is not a big deal pal. Would you like the names of lawyers with IQ's in the mid 20's? Try Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid, Chris Dodd, and two recent Supreme Court appointees.

megapotamus| 11.8.10 @ 10:41AM

Barry was an Affirmative Action case at Harvard as in the entire rest of his life. This was of course not merely a racially based bit of logrollling but also, probably mostly, based on his impeccable radical communist bona fides that were familial as well as didactic as he was raised at the knee of notorious communist enemies of America, liberty... indeed, all of humanity. Hey, if O is such a genius why did he never write anything for HLR? Why does he hide his Columbia transcripts like fellow moron Al Gore did? No, in addition to being wedded to an ideology more mortal than small pox, in addition to being absurdly arrogant and impressed with himself (though that is largely the fault of his witless disciples), he is a halfwit unable to express the merest thought that has not been composed by a committee to which he does not belong and projected before his thirsty retinas. This Obama fool is a fraud at all levels and the only people who do not know that are much much greater, or better said, lesser fools.

tdiinva| 11.8.10 @ 10:55AM

Obama was an affirmative action admission. We all know that. Does that make him average intelligence (IQ of 100)? Of course not. But that doesn't make him bright. He is probably as smart as JFK, who clocked in at solidly above average 120 (compared to Nixon's off the charts 180) when he was tested by the Navy during WWII.

His stint as editor of the HLR was more ceremonial then real. Unlike every other editor he published no articles and was the only HLR editor not to clerk for a Supreme Court Justice. A good comparison would be with Ann Coulter who was editor of the Michigan Law Review. She published many articles herself and clerked for a Federal Appeals Court Justice Pasco Bowman. Coulter probably has 20 IQ points on Obama. When you combine his rather mediocre intelligence with a millenial's ignorance you get an intellectual midget.

Democrats always brag about how much smarter than Republicans. For the most part it is the self congratulations of the smartest guys in the room. It goes back to the Eisenhower-Stevenson elections of 1952 and 1956 where smug Democrats assured themselves about how much smarter Stevenson [mediocre Ivy League student, and undistinguished Chicago machine controlled governor] then Ike [who ran the coalition that won what remains the most complex operation in the history of warfare]. It carried on through the past three elections where objectively George Bush had more brain power then Gore or Kerry (you can check Michael Isakoff for the former and Kerry’s eventually released academic and military test records for the latter. ) My guess is that Sarah Palin has 10IQ points on Obama .

David T.| 11.8.10 @ 12:44PM

And I would guess that high-school grad, self-made Rush Limbaugh beats Barry by at least one standard deviation on the IQ scale.

skip| 11.8.10 @ 10:59AM

Care to elaborate why the transparent one won't release his transcripts? Harvard has long become a joke. The academic one couldn't run a convenience store.

i-see-dumb-people| 11.8.10 @ 4:10PM

You are an idiot. The fact that you and others of your ilk get to vote is a really bad omen.

Albert| 11.8.10 @ 11:30AM

Please do not confuse education with intelligence. Many people in life and in politics are educated beyond their intelligence. This does not make them smart, or brilliant. To properly evaluate President Bozo's intelligence look at what he does since his education. Not much there to indicate "brilliance." Frankly, this boob is the stupidest man I have ever seen in politics. He has said and done things that would have gotten anyone else laughed off the politcal stage. He knows nothing about economics, he clearly does not know what the US Constitution is or how he is bound to it, and he violates it on a daily basis. He knows nothing about managing a business or a government. He has no common sense or practical experience. But he is arrogant and condescending, lecturing people on subjects he has no competence in. He is incapable of speaking contemporaneously and drags a teleprompter to even the most trivial of venues. His impromptu speeches are littered with "uh..." and "um..." far more than most sports inteviews. And this Bozo is completely incapable of admitting a mistake or ever learning from one. He still claims his "stimulus package" a grand success when by any objective measure it is a colossal failure, not to mention completely unconstitutional. (How is it that a Harvard Law grad knows virtually nothing about the Supreme Law of the Land? Incomprehensible.) The simple truth is that President Bozo is a puppet, an empty suit. A man of limited intelligence who has been carried to this point by monied controllers. He is not his own man and never has been.

Occam's Tool| 11.8.10 @ 11:33AM

A lawyer Mr. White is! That explains everything.

Law exams are not in the same league with med school exams, boyo. I know---I tutored my girlfriend on her L-SAT back when. The MCAT was MUCH harder.

Occam's Tool| 11.8.10 @ 11:34AM

Said GF was a Truman scholar and later made Law Review at Michigan. Still no match for MDs.

By the way, the Brits have a horrible cancer survival rate, and I know why.

Occam's Tool| 11.8.10 @ 11:36AM

And I also have friends who graduated from Harvard and Yale Law---no affirmative action in either case, and the Yalie was accepted to Harvard (another Truman scholar). Still no match for the average MD. Sorry.

Albert| 11.8.10 @ 11:49AM

OK. I'll bite. Why? I believe you, I just really want to know why it's so bad in Britain. My wife died from breast cancer 8 years ago, when breast cancer is supposed to have a pretty good survival rate. She didn't make it because of late diagnosis and I have other complaints about her treatments. If it's worse in Britain, tell me more.

pigletrios| 11.8.10 @ 1:25PM

I'd rather have a business man than a lawyer running the country thank you. There are plenty of people who have lofty degrees who dont' have any common sense!

friedfish2718| 11.8.10 @ 8:51AM

First, the stats you put out here are just averages and
it does not exclude low-performing applicants to enter Harvard.

Second, all of Obama's records are sealed (SAT, LSAT, Occidental, Columbia, Harvard).

Third, Obama does now show self-standing intelligence. Without teleprompter, he is lost. Mispronouncing the word "corps" shows a lack of international education (corps being a French word and to be pronounced as such).

All facts point to Obama being fortunate in hitching up with the "proper" masters and handlers, being of the correct ethnicity at the right time and place.

skedaddle| 11.8.10 @ 8:54AM

Oh, Edward, why do you even bother trying to reason with us poor, unwashed dolts? I really think you're wasting your time here. I know I'm too stupid to quite get your point but then I'm too stupid to see 0bama's brilliance, either. I think you'd be more at home at Kos or HuffPo.

Occam's Tool| 11.8.10 @ 11:40AM

Yeah, Eddie, I know. Law School also requires NO MATHEMATICS. My non-science GPA was a 4.00, my SAT was 1420, my ACT was 33, My MCAT was 68---higher than the average at Harvard Med. Color me unimpressed with Barack, "No academic publications to his name" Obama.

Conservative Teamster| 11.8.10 @ 12:49PM

Without seeing his grades transcript (which mysteriously remains hidden) I have no idea how smart he is and neither do you. The media keeps telling us how intelligent he is but offer no concrete proof of that. Do you believe everything the media tells you? He's a good talker, I'll give him that but I haven't seen too many smart moves on his part since he assumed office. A simple release of his grades would show us all how smart he is, right ? I'm waiting !

yamama| 11.8.10 @ 4:40PM

Ah come on, lets stop beating around the bush. Obama got in on Affirmative Action. Obviously his grades are soo bad, they had to be hidden away for life.

Miked| 11.8.10 @ 4:50PM

Edward,

Since neither you nor Obama have earned much credibility, please provide some accurate verification that Obama was, in fact, Editor (Not 'president' as you stated) of the Harvard Law Review. Please find ONE article he wrote or edited. Actually, I'd be satisfied with any proof that he even WENT to Harvard. If any Republican ever refused to provide the documentation that Obama has, the 'media' would be screaming 'IMPEACHMENT!' at the top of their biased lungs. Please find us some proof, please!

WayneFarmer| 11.8.10 @ 6:25PM

And the most important one, "MassaTOOsetts" -- not just once but every single time!

iamgreat| 11.8.10 @ 7:13AM

I think that I am who I was waiting for. My priorities are keep a roof over my head, have heat,light and food and anything left over is gravy. I buy food when on sale and also clothes and whatever else I absolutely need. If no sale no buy. My treat is a couple of glasses of wine with dinner when I can. Am I blessed? You betcha and overly so. Can I now have my Noble prize?

FastJohnny| 11.8.10 @ 7:14AM

You know, Americans can put up with a lot of poop. We can put up with crummy politicians, we can understand failed policies and poor judgement...even in the oval office: but what we can not endure are leaders who are unamerican and arrogant. We have an amazing capacity to last through bad times and still work hard, but very few of us are tolerant of a lecturer-and-chief who disdains the people and looks down his nose at those of us who actually make up America. According to him, his angry wife and his circle of cronies we have no idea what is good for us and are a nation of cowards, clingers and whatever -phobes because we actually go about our everyday lifes as if what we are doing is important. To him and fat butt, it is if they feel they are casting pearls before swine.

disdainedconstituent| 11.8.10 @ 7:15AM

All MoDo has left in her pitiful prunish life is "bourbon for mouthwash", as Rush Limbaugh pointed out back as early as 2002. Clearly, she displays alcoholic "wet brain".

EasTexan| 11.8.10 @ 7:31AM

Hey, Mo, have another drink and chill out. It's over. We won.

qwilly| 11.8.10 @ 7:46AM

Any man that will stand in front of his kids, his wife, the whole country, God and LIE all day... everyday is not
much of a man...

Ohiolad| 11.8.10 @ 7:59AM

"Ivy League schooling had made them think they knew better than the average American folks, not to mention the Founding Fathers."

I always get a little irritated whenever liberal elites or left-wing bloggers use the term "folks" because I know it is not a part of their usual vocabulary. Their use of the term usually carries with it an air of disdain, and if one were to substitute for it Katie Couric's "great unwashed" it would be closer to the truth of how they really feel about the country class.

stephanie| 11.8.10 @ 8:35AM

Along with his use of the word "folks" is the way he leaves "g" off of words. Like he's been so busy
"gettin' stuff done". This has become everyday in his lectures as he talk down to his subjects. He was doing this minutes ago in India while he lectured them. He gags me.

i-see-dumb-people| 11.8.10 @ 4:43PM

You're right, Ohiolad, the "great unwashed" would be a better description of you and your kind. Of course Obama has disdain for you and the "country class," if by that you mean the fox news-brainwashed, ignorant and undereducated class.

sangyinohio| 11.8.10 @ 8:53PM

You are also arrogant, which garners no respect here. Fox News carries lots of stories not seen on the other channels.

i-see-dumb-people| 11.9.10 @ 8:50AM

Hilarious. Respect? There's no respect here, just pure hate.

Duke 927| 11.11.10 @ 1:38PM

The only hater here is you. You are arrogant, smarmy and pompous.

Timothy L. Pennell| 11.8.10 @ 8:25AM

This is what becomes of a person, when they haven't gotten LA*D in 40 Years.
She's only gonna get worse.

Clinton nee Publius| 11.8.10 @ 8:30AM

Maureen is just getting over the rejection of her life as well. She was rode hard and put to bed wet and rejected in the most brutal way a man can reject a woman - he publicly humiliated her sexuality and her desirability. These are subjective traits and subjective measurements are the only metrics that count to a true liberal so Ms. Dowd is not likely to recover her espirit de corpse anytime in the near future. In fact, she will never be more than the lowest and meanest form of liberal feminism and her nagging in the NYT is just symptomatic of the failure her life has become and the failure of spirit and purpose the NYT promotes to the detriment of all.

skedaddle| 11.8.10 @ 8:59AM

Maureen is stuck in the anger stage of grief about Michael Douglas and she takes it out on the world. Even Gloria Steinem got a man when she got old but poor Maureen only has Johnny Walker and Jack Daniels and I don't think they're doing her any good.

Anthony| 11.8.10 @ 9:16AM

So Steinem found a man, eh? Gee Gloria, I guess fish do need bicycles afterall. Who knew?

Anthony| 11.8.10 @ 9:11AM

Our favorite elitist leftist, Ms. Dowd the dower, symbolizes all that liberalism has devolved into. She is as empty and spent as that empty suit that currently occupies the White House.
All that is left for her and her ilk to do is to dry up and disipate into obvilion. This is a fitting end for her and those of them who worshiped at the alter of nihilism.

Radioman777| 11.8.10 @ 10:06AM

Beauty is skin deep, ugly goes to the bone. Unfortunately for Ms. Dowd, ugliness is a characteristic that thoroughly permeates her person from surface to core.

Paul from SA| 11.8.10 @ 10:15AM

I predict... that before Obama is replaced, Maureen Dowd will turn against Obama. (Ms. Dowd will accidently offend the thin-skinned Obama, and Obama will offend the thin-skinned Ms. Dowd and throw her under the bus.)

Emma| 11.8.10 @ 10:30AM

It's discouraging that someone with her blazing lack of logic andtenuous hold on reality actually has followers...and the followers vote. We're doomed.

heir2freedom | 11.8.10 @ 11:01AM

READ THIS GREAT ARTICLE BY NEW COLUMNIST "ECONPROF" @ "We" that perfectly explains Dowd's malaise:

"THROWING PROGRESSIVES BACK TO THE FRINGE"
http://heir2freedom.blogspot.c.....ringe.html

Albert| 11.8.10 @ 11:35AM

One must be pretty stupid to be able to look "up" to President Bozo intellectually. And here is Maureen Dowd praising Bozo as "brilliant." Does not speak well of Dowd.

Perusha| 11.8.10 @ 11:46AM

We’re back in 2001 A Space Odyssey. Hal is singing, “Daisy, Daisy----“

Life is a (daisy?) chain of dependence.

Let us enter this circular dance at the conclusion of the American election last Tuesday.

Once chain is born (again?) by one dowdy NYT columnist, who emits her tiresome and predictable resentment bile, as she closely channels the poor-me Islamists.

Many other chains arise when millions of readers absorb her words, and one by one, commentators on this site get to express their own re-actions.

And, along (came Jones) with this, here am I, providing another chain.

Where does the chain stop? It can’t!

You, as a chain on the chain gang that is human life, always---CHOOSE.

Let me entertain you with probably the greatest lesson I received from my Masters in Mathematics. Stay with me, because it is overpowering in its simplicity.

The higher math courses closely resemble the geometry class most people likely took in high school---at least the one I took in the 50’s. Lots of proofs.

So, at my average university, many of the math profs were---either fat, ugly, shy and/or otherwise “weird”. One young newbie, from USC, was totally retarded socially, and as a short and slight guy with thick glasses (He acted like Woody Woodpecker, as he quickly darted to and fro), he was quite a scene when he related with the young women in our class. Ah, Dr. Cater! I found out later that he was fired and landed at an even more mediocre college, because of un-PC troubles with the fairer sex!

Anyway, at the beginning of Advanced Calculus, the professor HAD to start SOMEWHERE---and, it was always some form of “The Axiom of Choice”. If any student was brave enough to ask him where THIS came from, he had to give the only possible answer---ASSUME it to be true.

In short---nobody knows, for sure!

There it is---we live in an assumed reality, with chains inside of chains, which depend on NOTHING. No thing. Study quantum mechanics, from which “truths” the technology is derived that has resulted in computers and all the other chain-inducing gadgets that we love to CHOOSE to play with.

Chain on, McDuff!

Seek| 11.8.10 @ 11:48AM

Maureen Dowd is a beautiful Irish-American woman who unfortunately is...out of her league. She's an OK columnist with a few telling insights here and there (even liberals get it right once in a while). She'd be ideal for the woman's page. But competing among heavyweights, Ms. Dowd is a few notches below par. Then again, when your competition at the NYT is the likes of Bob Herbert, Anthony Lewis and David Brooks, few would notice.

That said, she'd be fun on a date.

Louis Jenkins| 11.8.10 @ 12:53PM

"Rather than a matter of communication or being "outcommunicated," Obama failed because he and his Congressional allies were trying to sell a bad product."

And we're expected to swallow it. You can dress chicken sh-- up and sell it as chicken salad. But it is still chicken sh--. And did the Blue Dogs who voted for it get re-elected? 69 new Republican in Congess? Well, the Blue Dogs had Obama didn't they.

Oldefarte| 11.8.10 @ 1:55PM

Dowd is a despicable PIG [and I'm being charitable in saying same]. As to her calling Obama KENNEDYISK, that is simply an ignorant statement, since BOTH Obama and Kennedy were/are awful administrators/managers. At least Obama had to legislative ability to cram down Americans' throats his welfare bills, whereas Kennedy's bills were only passed upn his death and throught the legislative ability of Lyndon Johnson!!!!!!!!!

JeffT| 11.8.10 @ 2:17PM

Edward is like the socialite in Manhattan who said, "I don't know anyone who voted for Nixon." No kidding. If you were to get out to the so-called "unwashed" she would have met some other human beings that aren't her clones. As far as Republicans plans, they had plenty of ideas, all ignored by Mr. Obama and. obviously, bu Edward. Check out this site Edward, it might enlighten you somewhat: http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare

Anthony| 11.8.10 @ 3:22PM

That was the famous movie critic for The New Yorker magazine, Pauline Kael.
But along with Obozo, neither MoDo nor Edward White, Esq. seem to be aware that those "few extreme voices of Islam" have once again called for violence against America.
What's that famous lib line? " If you think education is expensive, try ignorance". Well, Obozo, MoDo, and Mr. White have proven the vacuous truth of that carnard.

Playrighter| 11.8.10 @ 3:28PM

Maureen is only shocked at humiliating a brilliant and spellbinding young president. Does this mean her racism is selective, and that she wouldn't mind humiliating Obama if he weren't brilliant and spellbinding (if, indeed, he even is)?

John| 11.8.10 @ 3:29PM

Dowd and the rest - Forest Gump said it best-

Stupid is as stupid does.

Enough said.

Paul| 11.8.10 @ 4:05PM

Did Maureen come up with this nonsense herself, or was it plagiarized like parts of her other work?

beebop| 11.8.10 @ 7:36PM

Priceless! Thank you ...

i-see-dumb-people| 11.8.10 @ 4:05PM

People ARE too dimwitted and propogandized to vote in their best interests. You people live in a fantasy land; you know deep down that liberals are right and you're wrong. You just can't admit it.

dac| 11.8.10 @ 4:38PM

Fascinating. So instead of questioning or criticizing Il Duce Negro and his lapdog apologists, we should calm down and realize that they really DO know what's best for us, and we'd be much, much happier. I didn't know this administration had already posted job openings for Re-education Camp Guards--but I'm sure your resume will be considered carefully by the White (Sorry--that's racist--the People's) House and the union thugs who broke kneecaps to re-elect Harry Reid.
Your arrogance would be stunning, except in the context of commentary on Dowd and the continued haughtiness of a cut-down-t0-size wannabe dictator, it really loses its ability to shock.
What you ought to be is extremely grateful that most Americans are (to date) willing to fight this civil war electorally rather than militarily--because you wouldn't last a week. Il Duce doesn't have enough Praetorians to kill as many Americans as he'd like to, and he'd have to rely on "soldiers" like you. What a farce that would be--my 9 year old would gut you like a fish and leave you for stray dogs before you could mouth your last love poem to your Dear Leader. Stay comfy in your city, dumbass, and hope for your own sake that Americans still vote your kind out rather than cut your organs out for sport.

i-see-dumb-people| 11.8.10 @ 4:50PM

You're one sick dude. Are you off your meds? I really hope you don't actually have a nine year- old who would want to gut me like a fish. Let me guess...you have more weapons in your house than Fort Benning.

dac| 11.8.10 @ 5:07PM

Sick, as you define it: unwilling to beg to be your and Dear Leader's slave and then thank you for my enslavement.
There is no doubt in my mind that my 9 year old would beat you senseless--maybe I'd be able to convince him not to scatter your guts to the local raccoons. Maybe not.
Thank God, in this country it remains none of your business whether or how I choose to defend my family against totalitarian vermin like you.

i-see-dumb-people| 11.9.10 @ 9:02AM

Let's see:
"9 year old would beat you senseless"
"totalitarian vermin"
"scatter your guts"
"fight this civil war"
"gut you like a fish"
"cut your organs out for sport"

Riiight. You're perfectly normal. The scariest of your threats is one that you didn't make: you vote.

LtColUSMCRet| 11.9.10 @ 6:20AM

i-see-dumb-people-in-the-mirror have you collected your Georgie S functionary check this week? How does it feel (I know you libtards are all about "feelings") to serve a criminal such as he?

i-see-dumb-people| 11.9.10 @ 8:56AM

Retired USMC? I doubt it.

WAKE UP| 11.8.10 @ 4:11PM

Edward White, justifying Michelle O's "Let me tell you something -- for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country"
said:
" Michelle was, of course, expressing her emotional response to millions of Americans who looked beyond race to support her husband for President of the U.S."

Edward , listen up. Millions of us, across the world, are proud of America, love America, know what it represents, and believe in its basic goodness - and we don't even (in most cases, can't even) live there !

Michelle's problems are her own (and they're obviously Barry's too), and the days when they tried to make the whole country live their lie are OVER.

bandit| 11.8.10 @ 4:30PM

it was still a shock to see voters humiliate a brilliant and spellbinding young president

The brilliance of repeating every liberal trope from the sophomore door room really only impresses other liberals. To everyone else he's just some sanctimonious college kid you wouldn't trust with your car keys.

i-see-dumb-people| 11.8.10 @ 4:38PM

Hey bandit, what's a sophomore door room?

Occam's Tool| 11.8.10 @ 5:22PM

Sophomore Dorm room. it's a good evaluation of him, Bandit.

i-see-dumb-people| 11.9.10 @ 9:07AM

Right. Dorm room. One of those things bandit's never seen the inside of.

Tarrop| 11.9.10 @ 1:54PM

Uhhhh....isdp: you probably oughtta stop while you're ahead...your ignorance is showing.....

ABNCP| 11.8.10 @ 4:33PM

Edward a lot of verbage, not a lot of accuracy.
I lived in Europe for 12 years, many of them in the U.K. You overestimate their National Health System. Example, I have a good friend over there whos wife died because she couldn't get a bed in a hospital in time to receive the treatment she required. If you talk to many English folks you will start to understand that is not an uncommon problem over there.They have a lovely system in the U.K. called stacking. That happens because there is a rule now that patients must be seen by medical personnal in a specified time period after being admitted to a hospital emergency room. Since no one can meet that time criteria, they stack people waiting for emergency treatment outside the hospital in vehicles until Meds people can actually see them, wonderful stuff. Here's a flash for you Many major Trades Unions, when negotiating work agreements demand that there members are covered by private health insurance. How about that. The unions were the driving force behind the NHS in 1946 and now even they see how bad it has become. When the Saudis, who have more money than God, need special medical treatment the come to the USA not Germany, Spain, Canada, England or even Cuba (take note Mikey Moore). Nothing is perfect but I'll take our health care over anywhere I have ever been, assuming ObamaCare gets shot down and a better and more cost effective system takes it's place.

Redstateboy| 11.8.10 @ 4:46PM

well since so many are describing how they feel about Dowd... I'd add she's an irrelevant Harpy at a Newspaper that's losing money that I predict will be out of business with-in the next 5 years.

humbucker| 11.8.10 @ 4:57PM

MoMo's diatribes are typically laughable. Those that read them and believe , do so at your own peril.

Mike Myers | 11.8.10 @ 5:08PM

Mr. White has a long list of points as to why other medical systems are superior to the USA medical delivery system. Out in the real world Mr. White's talking points don't go so well. In the past half dozen years my wife and I have been in the emergency room system 3 times--broken elbow, broken rib, head wound. Got treated within an hour or so after arrival each time.

We're insured--but these emergency rooms were at remote locations (you can't pick where you're going to have your accident) and treatment would have been the same if we were uninsured.

We've also gone through the UCLA Hospital medical system; wife had a detached retina at 10:00 pm one Friday night--called the Jules Stein Eye Institute and were met by a resident on the steps of the Institute at 12 midnight. Got confirming diagnosis, and we were back at UCLA at 0530 on Saturday morning and wife was on the surgical table at 0800. Elapsed time from diagnosis to surgery--8 hours.

I've got a daughter who's married to an Englishman. They live in London. If like me you've visited England a lot, you will have noticed the English population has a much higher incidence of "bad teeth" than the American population. Daughter and son in law get their dental hygiene and dental work done in the USA on their visits here because it's just too difficult to see a dentist in England.

And if the daughter in England gets pregnant, she'll have the child delivered in the U.S. Obstetrical/gynecological procedures in English hospitals leave much to be desired from a sanitation/risk of infection standpoint. Yes I know it's true that there are a heck of a lot of babies born each year in England. But the daughter's preference is for an American hospital for delivery.

Danram| 11.8.10 @ 5:14PM

LMAO!!! Great column, Ralph.

Occam's Tool| 11.8.10 @ 5:21PM

Ok, you'll bite, and I'll deliver: the British NHS approves treatments based on assessments from NICE, which isn't. If they don't think something is cost effective, out it goes, even if it is effective. In addition, they rely upon meta-analysis of multiple Randomized Controlled Trials, which is not an equivalent of a good RCT. Finally, they practice by group approval, which means that creative reading of the literature to extrapolate best care for an individual patient is not allowed.

In addition, treatments are first and foremost evaluated by cost, and secondarily by efficacy. Finally, they allow no use of medication outside approved indications, whereas if the research literature is strong enough, American practice does (this is particularly important in situations where generic meds are found useful for other indications, as no drug company will spend the billion or so required to FDA approve an indication with no hope of return).

Like I said, I worked in Rotorua, NZ with British trained physicians (not MDs, a different, Master's level degree). I was extremely underwhelmed with the system, which was not only flawed, but inherently racist as well (it did not cover illnesses well which preferentially struck Maori in my field).

I have more to say, but I grow tired. It's a dismal subject.

Occam's Tool| 11.8.10 @ 5:27PM

I should have said, "Further, they practice by group approval." Sorry, tired. I'm glad to be home.

chris| 11.8.10 @ 5:36PM

Dowd was talking about Clinton you moron, not Obama. Read the article.

Jimbo| 11.8.10 @ 9:51PM

Thanks, Chris. It truly looks like neither Ralph Reiland nor any of the other commenters here noticed that Dowd's article was about Clinton's mid-term defeat, not Obama's. And her point is that Clinton went on to a be re-elected handily.

DaveS| 11.8.10 @ 5:41PM

Brilliant in defeat, Kennedy-like in his start: let's have more of it! Dowd has a sneer and lacks Coulter's humor and leg-pulling. Let her debate Coulter, and find out what Bill Maher discovered the hard way. BTW, is Maher still around???

DaveS| 11.8.10 @ 5:45PM

And, while we're at it, what's with the ongoing assumption that BHO (who the Kenyans count among their own) is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO smart? He hasn't released his transcripts, and he has a near-zero paper trail. And don't talk about the Ayers-penned biographies.

Harley2002| 11.8.10 @ 5:46PM

Man this woman has been really screwed by some man. Being that bitter she has to have let her guard down and been just totally destroyed. Well good seems like the type of person who deserves to be unhappy 24/7...

DaveS| 11.8.10 @ 5:48PM

I want to be on the Committee responsible for erecting the marker at BHO's birthplace. But we need some help locating it. Anyone?

Johnthe kiwi| 11.8.10 @ 6:07PM

ex-pat kiwi (Waiuku boy) here and I can only tell you that any talk of quality nationalized health care is utter bunk. When I was in grad school down at the University of Otago I was working on the pharmacokinetics of different drugs used in cardiac surgery (specifically the changes in protein binding during the bypass and cooling phase). I attended over 150 bypass, ASD and/or graft surgeries to collect samples. Two of the cardiothoracic surgeons were kiwi's that had undertaken the specialization component of their education in the US. I can't even begin to recount the number of 75 year olds that had been on waiting lists for bypass that were finally able to get in and the quality of their veins was so poor it was hard to even find something suitable for a graft. The surgeons were always angry about the fact the people were coming in way too late. I came to the US, thank God, to do my Post Doc. One of the other Post Docs was a hot little thing that loe and behold the Dean was bonking. It caused quite a stir when this 55 yo guy ditched his wife. As fate would have it a couple of months later he had some chest pain and went in to the doctor. Four days later he had elective bypass surgery. The preemption worked. They have three kids now and he is the Dean of a College in Nevada. Now I am a co-founder of a biotech company that was started 10 years ago in the Upper Mid West. We have 80 employees and we will do our damnedest to try and keep their health plans available that they are all grateful for. Make no mistake though, if my taxes go up and if it is cheaper for us to cast them loose into this wonderful new system of socialized health care we will. It will suck for them but as I told them a few years back...you get what you vote for.

Paul in Colorado| 11.8.10 @ 6:31PM

I find it difficult to believe that hard-nosed, trench-fighting Democrats were swept away by the fad of Obama. Surely the union bosses in Boston and Philadelphia couldn't care less about global warming or Guantanamo, and correctly saw Obama as a means to their ends. Old-school hardball politics and not too pretty, but at least intellectually honest in a rough sort of way. Rather, it is the ease with which the Smart Set is gulled by every passing fad and enthusiasm that is both revealing and disturbing. They want to believe the nonsense, need to believe it and embrace it wholly, if only for a little while.

H.L. Mencken summed it up nicely. It is one thing, he said, to believe wholeheartedly in an idea, and to commit oneself to that idea. It is quite another to believe wholeheartedly in a man, for his betrayal only awaits sufficient temptation.

The sad fact is that many of our supposedly sophisticated opinion leaders are emotional adolescents, and all too eager to throw themselves at the next fad - whatever or whoever that may be. Perhaps Obama understands this weakness and exploited it; perhaps he believes his own fairytales. The question is why so many intelligent and worldly-wise people fall so hard, and so often, for demonstrable nonsense.

Let me suggest a new theme song for our friends in the Progressive Left, a classic by Cole Porter:

It was just one of those things
Just one of those crazy flings
One of those bells that now and then rings
Just one of those things

It was just one of those nights
Just one of those fabulous flights
A trip to the moon on gossamer wings
Just one of those things

If we'd thought a bit about the end of it
When we started painting the town
We'd have been aware that our love affair
Was too hot not to cool down

So good-bye, dear, and amen
Here's hoping we meet now and then
It was great fun
But it was just one of those things

Ms. Ma'am| 11.9.10 @ 10:54PM

Right on, Paul, well put.

Me likey!

Bill| 11.8.10 @ 6:38PM

Barack Obama was perceived as an exceptional politician, articulate and smart. Unfortunately for him, there is a perception that other politicians who came before him saw themselves as exceptional too, like George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan. So I guess, among such company, President Obama just fades back into the ordinary background.

Skep41 | 11.8.10 @ 7:09PM

Its hard to believe that the Dems are just ignoring what happened. They are so sure that anyone who disagrees with any part of their ideas or actions is either hopelessly stupid or totally insane. The liberal class, as opposed to politicians who need to be elected, is blythe, a little sad, but not aware that the central tenets of their philosophy are under attack. Has Dowd listened to Marco Rubio? She just dismisses DeMint as some carnivorous yokel, not comprehending that these guys are as activist as Chuck Schumer or Barak Obama. The days of waiting for the libs to set the agenda are over. This defeat was key and for cultural leaders like Dowd to be ignoring it weakens the left and leaves it vulnerable.

Nancy Cohen| 11.8.10 @ 7:20PM

I don't know. Dowd sounds to me like a one night stand who thinks the guy that takes her home once in a while really loves her, but he's just too afraid of a real relationship. But she still has 'hope'.

Youdub| 11.8.10 @ 7:20PM

I'm both amazed and saddened by the amount on anger and nastiness reflected in nearly all of the comments to this article. Why all of the self-professed hatred toward those who don't share your political beliefs? How can one describe him or herself as patriotic when they show such contempt for their fellow citizens? The fact is that roughly a third of the country are self-identified democrats, another third are republicans, and a third are independents. Would the country be better off if there were no opposing viewpoints and parties? Certainly not. And when did our country begin to show such hostility toward education? Our universities are the envy of the world, and yet any individual who attends an Ivy League university runs the risk of being sneered-at, and labeled an out-of-touch elite. At what point did ignorance become fashionable? It seems as though the emergence of online media outlets have given rise to a complete abandonment of respectful discourse, which is clearly the result of relative anonymity. Despite the incredible progress the invention of the internet has resulted in, the utter collapse of civility remains a serious consequence. Perhaps I'm just naive, and am simply longing for an America that only ever existed in the romanticized history of our nation. However, I choose to believe that the key to American exceptionalism has always been the belief that individuals from all races, creeds, and national origins can come together to peacefully and respectfully coexist.

JohnR22| 11.8.10 @ 7:25PM

IMO the rancor is due to two factors. The first is that it's the Baby Boomers who are running the country right now, and they're the most ideological and polarized generation in the last 150 years. They TRULY hate each others guts; this started in the 60s and they will never put their rancor behind them. The second reason is that hyper-partisanship is the norm when one Party controls the entire govt. Look at the blowback against Bush; same as the blowback against Obama. When one side believes they have zero power/control, the get scared and then they get angry. Of course it doesn't help that both Bush and Obama BADLY overreached.

Youdub| 11.8.10 @ 7:53PM

I think that is a very valid point. Those who voice the loudest opposition to the current administration and their counterparts that existed during the previous administration seem to enjoy viewing themselves as some sort of "oppressed minority". We as Americans are fortunate enough to live in the greatest nation on Earth during the most exciting period of technological development and increase in standard of living in the history of the world, and yet all we seem to do is complain. That's not to say that we should ignore political actions that violate our value system, I just believe that our perspective as Americans is greatly skewed at the moment. Regardless of your beliefs, I think most would agree that we are all in this together. United we stand, divided we fail.

sub| 11.8.10 @ 10:25PM

frankly, the haughty arrogance, intolerance, derision, and smarmy narcissism of the "progressive" class are where this de-evolution began. no one like being talked down to and ridiculed for their position, and that motion, as a tactic, is exclusively the provence of the over educated left. when my positions and ideology are no longer regarded as those of a caveman, i will then return the favor of civility. until then, i see no reason to allow my enemy to own the low road....

JohnR22| 11.8.10 @ 7:21PM

Obama, the House Dem leadership, some Dem senators, and significant numbers in the MSM and acadamia TRULY to despise america...as it is today. They view it as inherently racist, imperialistic, homophobic, militaristic, and...yeah...capitalistic (that's right; these folks do NOT like capitalism). They also love america...that is their idea of the utopia to be once they get total power and change everything. Check out this week's Youtube vids where Lawrence O'Donnell angrily declares him to be a socialist (while he degrades tepid Dems like "liberals" and "progressives"). Now only if we could get the aforementioned Dems to stop lying, drops their masks, and FINALLY declare themselves to be socialists. Which is what they are.

Dave| 11.8.10 @ 8:53PM

Your ignorance is saddening. How can you presume to know what these people are truly like? Socialism is: giving the state primary control over the means of production and distribution, and production is usually strictly for use, not profit. While Obama may have led the democratic party a little further left than we are used to, they are certainly not socialistic. There are elements of the conservative movement that are moving much further right than we have seen in modern times, and America is by far the most conservative country in the world. As far as the evil liberals thinking America is racist, imperialistic, homophobic, and militaristic, no one who understands this country thinks that America is inherently any of those things. BUT, you would have to be extremely ignorant to say America doesn't have a race problem, or a homophobia problem. I do not wish to affiliate myself with any party, but I would classify myself as fiscally conservative and scoially liberal, and I try to read conservative and liberal media coverage in order to get a weel rounded sense of the issues, since unbiased coverage is impossible to find. I must say that that the conservative coverage of politics panders far more to its demographic, and this is probably the reason for the one above. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I urge you to think about what you are reading or hearing before you repeat it. What will move this country in the right direction (whatever you may think that is) intelligent and respectful discourse. When you spew unfounded and ignorant b.s. like the above, no one is going to listen to you exept the people who already agree with you, and what good does that do. We need to forget the labels of conservative and liberal and remember that we are all Americans, and that we all want the best for America, and in the end that means the best for each other

BenzieBen| 11.8.10 @ 7:38PM

Would some fellow please give Maureen a little romance. The poor woman's rejection by a plethora of men has apparently left her as bitter and emotionally scarred as Dickens' crazy Miss Haversham or Emily in Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily."

SeanE| 11.8.10 @ 8:51PM

My wife got Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer last year. We are a middle class family, she works as a teacher, I as a computer programmer (not much more than entry level programmer). Her insurance allowed us to use M. D. Anderson for her treatment - the greatest cancer treatment center in the world.
Under Obama's system, all but the rich would be excluded from that facility, due to rationing and cost. Under our non-government-run system, she was able to get world-class care. Case closed as far as I'm concerned.

Kevin| 11.8.10 @ 9:33PM

Reagan a great communicator??
I can only assume his best speeches didn't reach Australia.
He always sounded to me as if he was suffering a stroke whilst speaking.

LtColUSMCRet| 11.9.10 @ 6:26AM

That's OK Kev..Ozzies all sound drunk or brain-addled. Which is it? By the way are you a Marine left-behind brat?

Dave| 11.9.10 @ 2:33PM

Thank you for show casing the goodwill and respect Americans have become well known for. It's people like you that are the reaon Americans have the reputation that they do around the world.

Ms. Ma'am| 11.9.10 @ 10:46PM

Awww, Davie, you sure told the L.C.! You are one brave dude.

I've got news for you little Davie that reputation you claim we have all over the world comes from none other than the American left. You've been sipping the kool-aid slurpee too long resulting in permanent brain freeze.

America and Americans are beloved around the world, so much so, that there is a general puzzlement with respect to people like you.

Pathetically you cull your opinions, of your own country, from dictators and despots. Does it give you no pause to parrot the likes of Chavez and Ahmahdinejad? You clearly know not of what you speak.

I used to feel sorry for folks like you, as your lives must be quite miserable, but I have tired of your silliness as it has led us into more dangerous territory.

You and your ilk are a blight on your fellow countrymen and women.

And, though it may sound trite, statements like yours always beg the obvious questions; why on earth do you stay in this god forsaken, humanitarian nightmare that is the United States?

Really, why? Clearly the left believes that there better places to live so.....

jeff| 11.8.10 @ 10:16PM

okay Mr Reiland: you are exceptional. Really
exceptional. Feel better now?

sub| 11.8.10 @ 10:21PM

Dowd is an onerous old hag. I'm really enjoying watching her ludicrous spin on these election results. Awesome. Let's see how far she can get her head up Obama's nether regions during these next two years....

Isabella| 11.8.10 @ 10:43PM

Quoting Mata Hari Maureen : "the couple in the White House was not American enough, not quite 'normal,' too radical, too Great Society." Further, they were able to persuade a lot of Americans that both Obamas were given a strong overdose of arrogance and self-importance in college, that all their "Ivy League schooling had made them think they knew better than the average American folks, not to mention the Founding Fathers." >>> I say, the people did not have to be persuaded by those mean old conservatives. The truth about Obama is easily seen. All you have to do is listen to him. He seems to have acquired a deep psychotic anger for affluent, and upper middle-class people living normal lives, (especially people who do not adore his Socialistic ideology and prefer capitalism.) He is but an insignificant wind in the night, as is Queen Michelle, and that wind will soon be blowing back to Chicago. There is darkness over this country, and it will not disappear until all traitors are out of our White House and Congress. People like Maureen Dowd, Michelle and Barry Soetoro, all need therapy to find out why they feel this obsessive desire to impose their anti-American phobias and mental illness issues on the rest of us. Not our fault they grew up twisted. America was a happy prosperous nation before these demented Socialists came out of their demonic closets, or Rev. Wright's churches, or wherever they came from. Sorry, but I don't have time to listen to the whiners. They lost .. Conservatives won. The whiners lost this election, and the oh so intelligent one will lose again in 2012...for no other reason than he is a loser. He may be like a Kennedy, because he likes to talk about driving that car in the water, ( I mean ditch)...but Reagan. Please don't insult Ronald Reagan. Obama was not, is not, and never will be in the same league with Ronald Reagan. Reagan was a real man, with purpose, and one such purpose was to honor the country he loved. Obama doesn't love anything but his father's dreams, I mean nightmares.. Everyone is sick of him, his spending, his arrogance, his illegal aunt, and his love of everything not American. I believe with all I have, he is a traitor..and he isn't doing anything to change my mind.

Lee| 11.8.10 @ 10:47PM

Kevin,
it could be the poor sound quality of the youtube videos you`ve been watching or you need to have your hearing checked ?
My guess is you`re an idiot.

general summerall| 11.8.10 @ 11:43PM

Re various very smart people molding our thinking: Joe Klein goes out into the US for Time and announces that Americans are Rowdy and Ignorant, and Mr. Matthews on MSNBC opines that the discovered ink cartridge bombs were harmless and could not blow up anything and all the news on the icbs was a plot by Fox to get morning news ratings, and CNN yesterday p.m gave 30 minutes to Tim Wise who wants everyone over 60 to die (these people are all socially poisoned by being relics of the Jim Crow era and when the old devils are gone the new gererations can see American History for the evil it has been. The dumbest POTUS we have had was the guy Lincoln with 6 months of schoolin and a reading of Blackstone. He didn't even know which King of England was beheaded(Chuck the Ist).

Scott| 11.9.10 @ 12:18AM

I may be a conservative nut, but I and several million of my brothers and sisters kicked your ass, Dowdy. As your favorite president has been known to say, "I won." BBBBBWWWWWAAAAAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Paevo| 11.9.10 @ 10:58AM

The difference between O and Reagan is that the more O speaks, the more it becomes apparent that he is a pathological liar. Whereas with Reagan, the more the breadth of his convictions became apparent, whether you agreed with them or not.

general summerall| 11.9.10 @ 4:57PM

The classic skit on SatNightLive from the 80s had Ronnie acting like an old dumb when he was with a bunch of common Americans in for a visit, and then in the Oval he was a sharp boss cracking the whip on his staffers. It may have been the truth. Are there 2 Os; the clown and the Boss? Or is he the same guy? What you see on the tube is how he rules us?

Anthony| 11.10.10 @ 5:41AM

I'm convinced the guy is a "sock puppet" and Michelle's arm is jammed firmly up his arse, working his mouth.

Ans George Soro's arm is jammed all the way up hers...

Bobo Fat| 11.9.10 @ 9:48PM

DEFINITIONS PLEASE : bloviate, brevity
YADA, YADA,YADA.
CAN ANYONE OUT THERE PLAY THIS GAME.
GOTTA GET BACK TO WORK

Ms. Ma'am| 11.9.10 @ 10:29PM

My observations during the health care debate revealed that the liberal's defense of socialized medicine is almost always based entirely on talking points lifted from left wing media outlets and never on first hand experience with such a system of medical delivery.

The left stedfastly ignores first hand reporting from actual users of a socailized system.

In short, the lefty supporters of socialized medicine are pleading for something they know nothing about.

Much like Edward the Whiner posted here a lefty can rattle off a litany of negatives about the American system while finding no fault with the real horrors occuring under the socialized regimes.

Edward, I challenge you to spend a month in Britain, or better yet Cuba. Cozy up to someone with something contagious, or perhaps go all Jackass and break a bone. Get back to us about the wonderful medical treatment you recieve. I am quite certain you will feel comforted by the lack of attention and limited medical supplies that will be provided while you wait hours on end in the decaying facilites. I am sure that you will not be appalled by all that is lacking, because heck, its free!

dlmstl| 11.9.10 @ 11:51PM

Cut the Irish lassie some slack. Show me any happy, content, single, angry, 56 year old female in NYC. She is a mass of contradictions. There is no Pre or Post MS with her. It is a permanent affliction. She can have moments where she is insightful and comedic but then just as quick she resorts to form and spews forth a column like this. Like cats these libs just cannot control themselves.

Anthony| 11.10.10 @ 5:35AM

All these "free health care" morons don't impress me. If they wanted "free health care" there's a country right to the north where they can go with their sick grannies who've lost their jobs & their health care to the Evil Health Conglomerates and partake in the Sick-o's Paradise of Canada.
Or, if you like a warmer clime, theirs that Island Paradise of Cooba. Or, if you like warm beer, there's anoth Island a few thousand miles to the east called "Britain". There's France...Germany...lots of places to go and get free health care.
But NO...

You have to F**K with MY health care instead!

And NONE of your IDIOTIC plans to "fix" health care involve tort reform.

Why is that? Perhaps because there are so many lawyers in the Congress?

Piss Off! I like my health care & I like my doctors.

LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!

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