Your Daily Dose of Health Care Stupidity

It would've been nice if they'd laid off the stupid for just one single day in honor of Ted Kennedy's memory, but no. Way too much to ask.

In fact, Cons wasted no time in using Kennedy's death as an excuse for their failures. Steve Benen calls 'em out: "Indeed, Edward Kennedy was in the Senate for nearly five decades, and passing health care reform was the cause of his life. If senators like Hatch and McCain were seriously open to the idea of passing reform, and Kennedy really had the ability to persuade conservative lawmakers to embrace a progressive policy, it would have produced a bipartisan reform plan a long time ago."

Meanwhile, Rep. Hensarling said Cons wouldn't allow health care reform to pass in Kennedy's honor because, and I quote, "at the end of the day, this is a democracy, and I think the voice of the people have [sic] been heard quite loudly in the month of August." Which voice have you been listening to, Congressman? Because it sure as shit wasn't this one (h/t):

A new survey commissioned by the AARP asks respondents to what degree they support or oppose "[s]tarting a new federal health insurance plan that individuals could purchase if they can't afford private plans offered to them" -- a public option, in other words. The results are interesting, though not necessarily surprising to those who have been closely following the debate.

All: 79 percent favor/18 percent oppose
Democrats: 89 percent favor/8 percent oppose
Republicans: 61 percent favor/33 percent oppose
Independents: 80 percent favor/16 percent oppose

Well, my goodness! That sounds like a shit-ton of voices in favor of health care reform with a strong public option! In fact, that looks to be an overwhelming fucking majority of voices. I'm sorry, Congressman, but it looks like your argument is pure fucking bullshit and shall have to be treated as such.

And Sen. Enzi, in light of those poll numbers, you might want to back off the bragging that if it weren't for you, we'd have reform by now.

While Cons parade around making asses of themselves, Rep. Henry Waxman has been patiently charging his Smack-0-Matic, and it looks like mayhem is about to ensue:

Oh Goody:

By the time Congress returns from its recess and takes another whack at the health insurance mess, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., will have started revealing the deceit that protects health business profiteers.

Waxman has already begun by demanding that major insurance companies reveal how much they pay top executives and board members and, most important, the size of their profits from selling policies.

[snip]

I asked Waxman whether he expected the insurance companies to reply to his letters. “Oh yes,” he said. “When we write letters, we expect to get answers.” And what was his purpose in seeking the information? At first, he was reluctant to discuss the investigation. Finally, he gave a guarded reply: that many folks perhaps take too benign a view of private insurance companies.

Henry Waxman knows how to hold a hearing for maximum effect. The timing for this might just be perfect.

This, my darlings, shall be utterly glorious. I always love it when a Congressman makes insurance companies cry.