Where's the Outrage?

No, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to charge you for reading this.

I’ve talked about healthcare reform over and over again (I don’t see how Joan does it every day without going insane). I’ve talked about healthcare from an emotional standpoint and from an American legislative standpoint. I’ve talked about all the benefits of healthcare reform. Well, I’d like to take a different tactic. I would like to review the medical literature. I’ve picked several studies which I will describe over the next several days. The one thing that all of these studies have in common is that they point out that health insurance is a predictor of outcome. On Wednesday or Thursday, I’m going to review an article from the Journal of the American Medical Association which clearly states that having a unified health program has survival benefits. (We don’t have a coordinated, organized healthcare system in the United States.)

As a trauma surgeon, I don’t like to talk “shop” with people who are not in the medical profession. As soon as you start mentioning cytokines and mitochondria DNA, most people’s eyes glaze over. But, with watered-down legislation creeping through the Senate at a glacial pace, I thought it was important for me to go over some of this literature. The literature makes approximately the same point that Keith Olbermann made about a month go when he talked about having health insurance being life-and-death.

In trauma, we, trauma folks, would like to think that we treat patients all the same. Many states have trauma systems in which an injured patient, is shunted away from small hospitals that probably cannot help that patient and toward trauma centers who have the expertise and the manpower to help. This move has been shown to save lives. Most, if not all, trauma centers have protocols which are then individualized for a particular patient. We have found through numerous studies that these protocols help save lives. Therefore, you would figure that the outcome for a patient who was seriously injured in a car crash would be directly related to his or her injuries. This is true, for the most part. A recent study, however, has thrown a wrench in this.

A study, published in The Archives of Surgery in 2008, investigated over 400,000 patients who had been entered into the National Trauma Databank. One thing that we have known for years is that socioeconomic status does influence your outcome. As expected, mortality rates for Black and Hispanic patients were higher than those of White patients. Patients with insurance had a mortality rate of approximately half of those without insurance. Now, for the shocker — both Blacks and Hispanics with insurance who were injured had a mortality rate less than Whites without insurance.

This was a very surprising result. Numerous studies in trauma patients over the years have shown differences in outcomes among the races. As more and more studies have been done, it is clear that race is a surrogate for multiple other factors, including eating habits, living conditions and other things that can affect outcome. It is also clear that insurance acts as a surrogate for those same kind of factors. People with insurance have jobs. People with jobs drink less than people without jobs. People with jobs tend to live in better conditions than people without jobs. What was surprising is how strong insurance is as an indicator of lifestyle.

So, if every American had health care coverage would they all have better outcomes from trauma? Well, this question is somewhat hard to answer. On one hand, just having insurance does not get you to live in a better house, in a better neighborhood with better indoor plumbing and a refrigerator that works all the time. On the other hand, one of the huge problems that we have in the trauma community is that we have to send many people home from the hospital after their hospital stay is over, when they should go to a rehabilitation center for more therapy, but they can’t qualify because they don’t have insurance. These patients would instantly do better. Getting adequate health care coverage to all Americans is a step towards better equality.

I would like all members of Congress to read this article. This is important. This is what we’re fighting for. We’re fighting for a more equitable society. I’m not trying to take away any healthcare from anybody; instead, I want to add healthcare to those who don’t have it.

Tomorrow, I’m going to review an article called health insurance and mortality in United States adults. This article expands on the concept that insurance is a marker for outcome.

Tags: Congress, Healthcare, Party Politics by ecthompson md
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I got two out of three on Thanksgiving, but then again, just about everybody got two out of three on Thanksgiving. I figured that with their backs against the wall, the New York Giants would step up. They were completely unable. They seem to have more problems than they can overcome. I think their chances of making the playoffs are very slim.

The Early Games
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers versus the Atlanta Falcons. If Atlanta is seriously gonna make a run for the playoffs, they have to win this game. I look for Atlanta to play hard and come away with a victory.

The Miami Dolphins versus the Buffalo Bills. Miami is in a similar situation to the Falcons. They are playing a team that is, at least on paper, inferior. Miami has to win this game if they’re going to be taken seriously. I look for Miami’s defense to force turnovers. I look for Miami to figure out a way to win. If Miami only had a quarterback, they would be almost unstoppable.

The Washington Redskins versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Who knows? I think this is going to be a hard-fought game. The Redskins have a strong defense. Unfortunately, their offense is mediocre. The Eagles are struggling both on offense and defense. They still have Donovan McNabb who can make a big play at any time. The Eagles need a victory in order to stay with the Giants at 6-5. Look for the Eagles to do enough to win.

The Seattle Seahawks versus the St. Louis Rams. Why?

The Carolina Panthers versus the New York Jets. Poor Mark Sanchez. He, like many other rookie quarterbacks, came into the league with all of this hype. He got paid a lot of money. He had tons of interviews. We heard about how hard he was working and how he understood the offense. For the first three games of the season, he appeared to be living up to all of this hype. That was then. Sanchez has thrown 11 interceptions in the last five games. On the other side of the ball, Jake Delhomme has the uncanny knack of throwing an interception at just the wrong time. Both of these quarterbacks need a strong running game. This game is gonna come down to turnovers. Whichever quarterback can take care of the ball should win the game. I look for the Jets to win this game.

The Cleveland Browns versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Don’t get fooled by the offensive output of the Cleveland Browns. Last week was a fluke. They were playing the Detroit Lions. Look for the Cincinnati Bengals to right their ship and put a hurting on the Browns. I look for the Bengals to win by more than 10.

The Indianapolis Colts versus the Houston Texans. The Colts have had some offensive problems over the last several weeks. They’ve been able to move the ball but have not put up many points. The Houston Texans are a head scratcher. I have no idea how they lost last week. I don’t know how you let Vince Young run the ball. You have to make him throw the ball to beat you, but they didn’t. Dwight Freeney did not even make the trip. This could be significant. This is the perfect trap game for the Indianapolis Colts. I’m to pick the Houston Texans in an upset. Yeah, I know, picking against Peyton Manning is never a good plan. I’m gonna live dangerously.

The Afternoon Games
the Kansas City Chiefs versus San Diego Chargers. In spite of the Chiefs playing hard, I’ll think they have enough weapons to hold off the San Diego Chargers. I look for Philip Rivers to push the ball down the field. I think this game might be over by halftime. The Chargers by more than two touchdowns.

The Jacksonville Jaguars versus San Francisco 49ers. I have no idea how the Jaguars still have a shot at a playoff spot. They start off playing such mediocre football. Slowly but surely they’ve found ways to win games. I just don’t think the San Francisco 49ers have the talent to consistently beat anybody yet. Is Alex Smith going to be their quarterback? If they had some consistent quarterback play, I think that would be in more games. I give a slight edge to the Jaguars.

The Minnesota Vikings versus the Chicago Bears. Chicago just does not have the talent to keep up with an incredibly talented Minnesota Vikings team. Look for Bret Farve and Adrian Peterson to be sitting down most of the second half. The Vikings should cruise to victory.

The Arizona Cardinals versus the Tennessee Titans. It is clear that the Titans are playing better football after a disastrous beginning of the season. In spite of the fact that some people are talking about the Titans running the table, I don’t think it’ll happen. Arizona has played up and down this year. Being in the NFC West, Arizona can afford to play somewhat mediocre football. It is time for Arizona to play like they are defending champs of the NFC. Kurt Warner is expected to play. Chris Johnson leads the league in rushing, averaging over 6 yards per carry. This should be a very entertaining game if Kurt Warner can protect the ball. I look for this game to be high-scoring. I think Chris Johnson will get his hundred yards but it won’t be enough, as Kurt Warner will surgically dissect the Titans’ secondary.

The Baltimore Ravens versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, Ben Roethlisberger is not gonna play for the Steelers. Their second string quarterback, Charlie Batch, is also injured. You cannot roll into Baltimore with your third string quarterback and expect to win the game. Look for the Ravens to make enough plays to win this game. As a surgeon, I thought it was crazy for the Steelers to risk playing Roethlisberger. I don’t care how many tests you passed. We don’t know enough about head injuries to be able to adequately predict who will do well and who won’t. He is the franchise. Protect the franchise.

Monday Night Football
The New England Patriots Versus the New Orleans Saints. Now this is the game that has been hyped for the past 10 days. Everyone is looking forward to this game. The Superdome will be rocking. If you are even a little bit of a football fan, you have to watch this game. This game will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the league. Both teams have mediocre defenses. Both teams have high-powered offenses. I think this game comes down to the defensive line of the New Orleans Saints versus the offensive line of the New England Patriots. I think the Saints will put enough pressure on Brady to make a difference. I also look for New Orleans to try to do something to jump out to an early lead. I think they want to pressure the Patriot offense. Make them play catch-up. I look for this game to be a 24-21 type score. At the end of the day, once the smoke is cleared, I think the New Orleans Saints will remain undefeated.

Tags: Sports by ecthompson md
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Let’s mellow out with Earl Klugh.

Artist: Earl Klugh
Tune: This Time

Tags: Music by ecthompson md
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The mainstream media is always looking for something to capture America’s imagination and attention. It seems that content does not matter. They’re looking for the next “Baby Jessica.” Whether it is following a flying contraption and wondering if a child isn’t it or the fact that a couple crashed an official state dinner, the media is going to cover it to death. (Unless this couple are connected to Al Qaeda or the Russian mafia. This is not a story.)

Now, the media is all over Tiger Woods. He has all the ingredients. He’s famous. There is a “mysterious” car crash in the middle of the morning. There’s the wife using a golf club, yes, a golf club to break in the back window. Why was he out at two in the morning? Were they fighting? Was he drunk? Who cares? As long as Tiger Woods, one of the most famous people the world, is okay, I don’t care about the details. Let the authorities handle the details. I want to know where Congress is in creating jobs. I want to know where we are on healthcare legislation. I want to know why Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln, three senators, are allowed to hold up six months worth of effort in writing healthcare legislation. I want to know what backroom deals are being offered and promised. I want to know why the mainstream media can’t do their jobs and report the actual news.

From CNN:

Florida highway patrol troopers plan to talk to pro golfer Tiger Woods on Saturday to get more information about his car crash near his home, a spokeswoman said.

Woods was treated and released from a hospital after suffering minor injuries in a car accident early Friday in his central Florida neighborhood. (more…)

Tags: Media, Sports by ecthompson md
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Now this is a sexy woman and the tune is kind of catchy.

Artist: Shakira
Tune: She Wolf

Tags: Music by ecthompson md
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Maybe I’m wrong but it sure seems like times have changed. At the risk of sounding like one of those old-timers in the movie Barbershop, it seems that words like integrity, honesty and truth have lost their meaning. As the two major parties clash over everything from healthcare to Afghanistan to global warming, it seems that they can’t even agree on the basic facts. We see this not just our leaders but everywhere around us. The other day when I was in my own barbershop, there was this older gentleman who had conspiracy theories involving the government, our preachers and, well, everybody. He had a lot to say. Unfortunately, a lot of what he had to say was devoid of facts. I don’t blame him. This is the way our society has been going for the last 30 years. Although “truthiness” (a term coined by Stephen Colbert which he defined as “truth that comes from the gut, not books.” In other words, stuff that we wish were true.) did not start with President Ronald Reagan, he brought it to the forefront. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, conservative columnist Ann Coulter and others have perfected this means of communication in which you start with something that is the truth and then segue into something that is almost true and end up with something that is completely false. To the unsuspecting observer, you made sense.

To say that the problems in the black community have been caused by the US government is laughable. Sure, maybe government programs like welfare did not help the black community, but it sure did not cause the problems with joblessness and lack of education and our youth growing up without fathers. It did not start with welfare or the Great Society. In The Philadelphia Negro, written back in 1897, W.E.B DuBois describes joblessness, black men fathering multiple kids and a lack of education in the black community. What we see now has been going on for over 100 years!

Do you remember August? The right wing was pushing several items that simply weren’t true. They told us that health-care legislation included death panels. There was no such thing in the legislation. They also told the elderly that, in order to save money, Democrats were trying to kill them off. This is simply a lie. I’m not saying that either the right or the left has a monopoly on truth. Neither side does but give me a break.

One of the common themes that heard over the last several years is that gay marriage will destroy the institution of marriage. I simply don’t understand this logic. I don’t know how somebody else who gets married – a man and a woman, a woman and a woman or a man and a man – I don’t know how they’re going to affect my marriage. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that my marriage is mostly affected by me and my wife. I have a high likelihood of divorce if I forget my wife’s birthday or I buy her something ill-advised like a vacuum cleaner for our anniversary. I simply don’t see how gay marriage is going to affect it.

Finally, the new economic numbers came out for October. The economy still is not making jobs. Republicans have stood up and asked where are the jobs? This is a little gamesmanship being played by the Republicans. 190,000 jobs were lost last month, which is the lowest figure since the recession started. Any economist will tell you that business will need to start making money and feel good about their economic prospects before they begin hiring workers again. If people would like to criticize Obama’s economic plan, they should ask where are the jobs are going to come from? The lackluster Bush recovery was driven by the housing market. The housing market is currently problematic. New jobs are going to have to come from Obama’s green energy initiative.

I guess my point is that many people think that they know the answers to the ills of America. Most of our problems are complex and require a thoughtful solution. Anyone who gives you a knee-jerk answer to a complex question is probably leading you astray. There are definitive truths in our society. We just have to be willing to find them.

Tags: Domestic Issues by ecthompson md
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I just got home from the hospital. I have to drive by Toys “R” Us on the way home. The parking lot is packed. Several cars were actually parked on the lawn because there wasn’t enough room in the parking lot. I’m sorry, I simply just don’t understand. Why? Why would anybody stay up all night for this? For what? For a bargain, something that you don’t have to have? I think this whole thing would be different if they were standing in line for something like food. This isn’t food.

For some reason, we’ve been told that we have to have the “right of way” for our child. This is garbage. Children appreciate any thoughtful gift. I’ve been in toy stores. There are literally hundreds of gifts that you can give a child that the child would like. They don’t have to have the G.I. Joe with kung fu grip. They simply don’t.

The other problem is that we’re just spending too much money. We’re spending money we don’t have. Consumer debt is over $2.4 trillion. OMG!! Our saving rates are at historical lows. We should not have to go into debt in order to buy Christmas gifts. The only people who benefit from our going into debt are the big corporations. We don’t benefit. Our children don’t benefit. Stop the madness. There is no reason for us to go an elbow each other over toys. This is just ridiculous.

Tags: Domestic Issues by ecthompson md
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BTW, how did a couple of nobodies crash the White House State dinner? Did the Secret Service take the night off? Did these people know the kitchen help and sneak in that way? I don’t understand how this happens in a post-9/11 world.

Tags: Obama administration by ecthompson md
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I’ve been up all night, so I’m not to be able to watch all the games today. Briefly, here are my thoughts on today’s games –

The Green Bay Packers versus the Detroit Lions. In spite of Detroit’s miraculous win last week, they’re still an awful team. The Green Bay Packers have their problems, but it’s mostly on defense. Aaron Rodgers will have a good day as the Packers run away from (I guess would be more correctly to say “throw the ball down the throats of”) the Detroit Lions. It is possible for Detroit to win but Green Bay would have to completely self-destruct. Look for Green Bay to win by more than two touchdowns.

The Dallas Cowboys versus the Oakland Raiders. The Oakland Raiders have a stiff defense. Strong defenses have absolutely crushed the high-powered Dallas Cowboys offense. Tony Romo has not been very accurate over the last two weeks. I don’t know whether he’s afraid of throwing an interception or if he’s having withdrawal symptoms from being dumped by Jessica Simpson or what. All I know is he’s not playing that well. The NFL, these days, is driven by quarterbacks. The better your quarterback, the better your team does. The worse your quarterback is — welcome to the cellar. The Raiders have excellent cornerbacks who will pressure Miles Austin, who has disappeared over the last two weeks, and Roy Williams, who continues to be extremely mediocre. In order for the Cowboys to win, they’re going to have to run the ball and throw the ball to the running backs. I’m not sure how much Jason Witten is going to play. He’s been nursing a sore ankle. The Dallas defense is going to have to force some turnovers. In order for the Cowboys to win this game, they’re going to have to get out to an early lead. They need to give the Raiders a reason to give up. If this game is close in the third quarter, look for another extremely close game. I think the Dallas Cowboys will win this game, but it will be from an incredible rushing performance from the running backs. I sure hope Felix Jones is up to the task.

The New York Giants versus the Denver Broncos. This is probably the best game of the day. Both teams are in an almost must-win situation. The Denver Broncos started off so hot. Unfortunately for them, that was more than three weeks ago. They have now lost three in a row. They’ve looked awful and are going to be losing a couple of these games. The New York Giants, on the other hand, lost their mojo, but seem to have tried to right the ship last week with an extremely important when over the Atlanta Falcons. I just don’t know if Denver’s defense can hold up. In order for Denver to win, they have to put pressure on Eli Manning early in the game. Denver must stop the run if they’re going to have any chance of winning this game. Look for Brandon Jacobs to have a big day. I think the New York Giants are going to win this game in Denver. No matter who wins, this should be an excellent game.

Tags: Sports by ecthompson md
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Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. I wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday. I hope that you’re able to spend it with your loved ones.

This is short list, it is not exhaustive. This is what I’m thankful for:

• I’m thankful for a wonderful, loving wife and family. I could not be more blessed.
• I’m thankful that I’m not writing George Bush’s autobiography. How do you make eight years of failure sound good?
• I am thankful for our wonderful troops overseas and here at home. I’m hopeful that the troops at Fort Hood are getting the support that they need.
• I”m thankful that Bernie Madoff got none of my money. I’m sad that Wall Street CEO’s didn’t personally invest in his schemes.
• I’m thankful that Joe the Plumber’s 10 minutes is up.
• I’m thankful that neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin became president.
• I’m thankful that Barack Obama is our president.

• I’m thankful that the House has passed healthcare legislation. I’m glad that Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln and Ben Nelson don’t represent me or my state. I’m glad that progressives rejected Joe Lieberman. I’m just sorry they couldn’t convince the rest of the state not to vote for him.
• I am thankful for Senator Al Franken, who has stood up for working women and against big corporations.
• I am thankful that I belong to a party that does not hold litmus tests for entry.
• I am in thankful that the economy is improving. I’m extremely hopeful that the economy will begin making jobs in the first quarter of next year. We need jobs. We desperately need millions of jobs. We need slow and sustained growth, not for two or three years, but for an extended period of time. We need green jobs. We need jobs that cannot be shipped overseas. We need American companies to begin to invest Americans again.

Tags: General, Obama administration, Party Politics by ecthompson md
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Dear Diary,

I’m trying hard not to hate her or despise her, or vomit when I hear the words “Sarah Palin.” It is not that she has bad ideas. It’s not that she has an odd way of phrasing things. No, it’s more than that. I guess you could say that she is a Robo-Conservative. If you’re going to make a conservative politician, you would want to start with Ronald Reagan because of his folksiness. You then need to add some of the hypocrisy that Newt Gingrich brings to the table. Finally, you need to throw in some of the bullheadedness and stubbornness of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. When you mix all that up, what do you get? Sarah Palin. She is a walking, talking cliché of conservatism. She has no original thoughts. Every question can be answered with tax cuts or by reduding the size of government. It is simply nauseating.

Maybe Jon Stewart said it better:

Tags: Party Politics, Television, The Daily Show by ecthompson md
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I don’t know if any of you remember Monty Python and the Spanish Inquisition. These guys would show up in the middle of scenes and yell, “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.” Well, this is Blackwater. They are everywhere. This is what progressives feared. Blackwater would be used as a military force to go around Congress. With their tanks and copters, there isn’t much that Blackwater can’t do. They aren’t tied down like our military. They can do whatever they want.

From the Nation:

At a covert forward operating base run by the US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, members of an elite division of Blackwater are at the center of a secret program in which they plan targeted assassinations of suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, “snatch and grabs” of high-value targets and other sensitive action inside and outside Pakistan, an investigation by The Nation has found. The Blackwater operatives also assist in gathering intelligence and help direct a secret US military drone bombing campaign that runs parallel to the well-documented CIA predator strikes, according to a well-placed source within the US military intelligence apparatus.

The source, who has worked on covert US military programs for years, including in Afghanistan and Pakistan, has direct knowledge of Blackwater’s involvement. He spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity because the program is classified. The source said that the program is so “compartmentalized” that senior figures within the Obama administration and the US military chain of command may not be aware of its existence.

The White House did not return calls or email messages seeking comment for this story. Capt. John Kirby, the spokesperson for Adm. Michael Mullen, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told The Nation, “We do not discuss current operations one way or the other, regardless of their nature.” A defense official, on background, specifically denied that Blackwater performs work on drone strikes or intelligence for JSOC in Pakistan. “We don’t have any contracts to do that work for us. We don’t contract that kind of work out, period,” the official said. “There has not been, and is not now, contracts between JSOC and that organization for these types of services.” (more… )

Tags: Pakistan, Security by ecthompson md
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When we first started talking about Healthcare Reform, I mentioned that I really, really supported a single payer (government run) program. If we provide the exact same healthcare services, we could save over $300 billion per year with a single payer system(although, I must admit, many people dispute this number). There would be significantly less administrative overhead. We would have the ability to direct funding into clinical research that would give physicians answers to the most important medical questions. What is the best drug for hypertension? Are drugs and exercise the best combination for a long life? How much exercise do you need in order to have cardiovascular benefit? We don’t have the answers to these questions.

Now, almost eight months later, we are bickering about a public option. We’re not even bickering about a strong public option. No healthcare plan that has been seriously debated in Congress covers all Americans. So this isn’t really healthcare reform. This is health insurance reform, sort of. Although this is much less than any progressive would’ve wanted, we have to push forward. We have to get something passed. We can’t go back to the American people in 2010 and say that we tried. That simply isn’t good enough. We have to pass some sort of meaningful healthcare legislation.

From DK (McJoan):

Progressive observers of the healthcare reform effort aren’t too heartened after the continuing recalcitrance of three ConservaDems and Joe Lieberman on healthcare reform, and the newfound willingness in leadership, as expressed by Dick Durbin to find a way to mollify them. The problem is, anything that works to make these guys happy isn’t going to be real reform.

Here’s Robert Reich:

But what more can possibly be compromised? Take away the word “public?” Make it available to only twelve people?

Our private, for-profit health insurance system, designed to fatten the profits of private health insurers and Big Pharma, is about to be turned over to … our private, for-profit health care system. Except that now private health insurers and Big Pharma will be getting some 30 million additional customers, paid for by the rest of us.

Upbeat policy wonks and political spinners who tend to see only portions of cups that are full will point out some good things: no pre-existing conditions, insurance exchanges, 30 million more Americans covered. But in reality, the cup is 90 percent empty. Most of us will remain stuck with little or no choice — dependent on private insurers who care only about the bottom line, who deny our claims, who charge us more and more for co-payments and deductibles, who bury us in forms, who don’t take our calls.

As I see it, the Democrats really have two other fights down the road and we need to win both of them if we are going to have any hope of holding on to Congress in 2010. Banking reform. Green jobs legislation. The Republicans and conservative Democrats will fight tooth and nail to make sure that this does not happen. So it is too early for us to get tired and frustrated by the legislative process. Unless we want to turn over Congress to the Republicans, we have to have more to show for our efforts. Let’s tighten our seatbelts, because it is definitely going to be… a bumpy ride.

Tags: Economy, Environment, Healthcare by ecthompson md
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Okay so, my Michael Jackson kick hasn’t faded yet. It isn’t my fault. MJ has stayed in the news. He just won two awards at the America Music Awards.

Artist: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
Tune: Say, Say, Say

Tags: Music by ecthompson md
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Unfortunately, I do not have an opportunity to prognosticate this morning. Then again, when you look at my record, it’s probably best that I didn’t.

There are a couple of really good early games:

Atlanta Falcons versus the New York Giants. Every time it looks like the New York Giants are going to close this game out, the Atlanta Falcons find some way to fight their way back in. The Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are playing the Colts tough. Oddly enough, the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns… this is turning into a surprisingly offensive game.

Pittsburgh is having a surprising amount of trouble with the Kansas City Chiefs. Every time it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to take over the game and make a stupid turnover or mistake, theyre at the two-minute warning and it’s tied up at 24.

With less than two minutes to go, the Atlanta Falcons are driving. They’re driving for a tying score. The Giants are generating a pass rush. Matt Ryan is currently picking them apart. Atlanta now has the ball on the Giants’ 10. This is a GREAT game.

Pittsburgh and KC are going to overtime!

Atlanta scores and the Giants and the Falcons go into overtime!

The Cowboys somehow pull out a win against the Redskins. The Cowboys offense played awfully. Tony Romo was awful. Can somebody tell Roy Williams that he is not a number one receiver? The Dallas defense held time after time. The Redskins had field position and the Dallas offense never could move the ball (overthrows, dropped passes), except on their very last drive (well, it was the next-to-last drive).

Matt Cassel throws a huge pass for more than 50 yards. The Steelers might lose this. Kansas City has the ball first and go from the three and they’re attempting a field goal.

Tags: Sports by ecthompson md
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From DK:

I’m still amazed that not even one f****g [ed. note - the Republican party does not have any moderates any more. We all know that there aren't any liberals. They are all different favors of ultraconservatives.] Republican could find minimum decency to at least vote for health care DEBATE in the US senate. Quite astonishing. What a disgrace. I’m not even talking about Olympia Snowe, who became half-president in recent months and now refuse to let the debate begin – But Orin Hatch? John McCain? People who served decades with Teddy Kennedy? How disgusting.

Right after the vote, Victoria Kennedy called Harry Reid in tears:

Mr. Reid first mentioned the call in an aside to Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut and one of Mr. Kennedy’s closest friends in the Senate, as they stood at a news conference after the vote. While Mr. Kennedy was battling cancer, Mr. Dodd stepped in as acting chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and helped shepherd the health care bill through a committee vote in July.

“She believes that Ted was watching,” Mr. Reid told Mr. Dodd.

Asked about the call, Mr. Reid said that Mrs. Kennedy had telephoned him in the Democratic cloakroom just after the 60 to 39 vote, which allows debate to begin on the Senate’s health care legislation.

“She called right after the vote,” Mr. Reid said. “I’ll remember the call always. She of course was crying pretty hard. We both felt that he’s watching us tonight.”

Tags: Healthcare, Senate by ecthompson md
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I don’t know Senator Ben Nelson. I don’t know if he is a thoughtful man or one of those gut-men who flies by the seat of his pants. It seems to me that it is a little late in the game for Nelson to send Majority Leader Reid an items list of things he wants or does not want in the HealthCare bill.

From Political Animal:

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) has a few thoughts about the kind of changes he’d like to see on the health care reform bill. In fact, he has two pages of ideas, which he’s already delivered to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

“There is not a lot of explanation there. These are just items,” Nelson said.

What’s on it? Public option, abortion, and CLASS Act, among other things.

“There will be a lot of discussion back and forth about what might get enough votes,” Nelson said after the vote. “There will have to be fairly significant changes for others as well, not just me…. Nuance will not be enough.”

I haven’t seen the actual list, but at this point, I’m not altogether sure what any of this means. Nelson hasn’t included “a lot of explanation” with his demands? Wouldn’t “a lot of explanation” be helpful under the circumstances?

He isn’t exactly a rookie. If Nelson has some specific ideas about policy improvements, he should, you know, craft legislative language, put together proposed amendments, start seeking co-sponsors, etc. Handing Reid a list of “just items” doesn’t sound especially constructive.

For that matter, it’d be helpful to know if this is a list or a ransom note. Does Nelson intend to join a Republican filibuster if only some of his list is addressed to his satisfaction?

As the process moves forward, keep in mind that Nelson appears to have a hierarchy of concerns in mind. Just a few days ago, the conservative Democrat said he doesn’t like the existing restrictions on abortion funding, but added, “If there’s no public option, perhaps some of the [abortion] problem goes away.”

In other words, Nelson has a list, but his top target is the public option.

Tags: Healthcare, Party Politics by ecthompson md
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I’m wiped out. I’m going to bed, but I wanted to pass this little nugget on to you.

From TPM:

On a perfectly partisan, 60-39 vote, the Senate agreed tonight to debate and amend a far-reaching health care bill. That debate will get started in earnest after Congress returns from next week’s Thanksgiving recess. Democrats and Republicans expect to offer hundreds of amendments (each of which will be held to a 60 vote threshold) and debate for several weeks before holding yet another procedural supermajority vote–to end debate. If that gets 60 votes, then there will be an up-or-down vote on passage of the bill.

If the bill passes it will likely undergo yet more changes in conference with House negotiators. The “conference report” that emerges from that process can’t be amended, but can be filibustered in the Senate, so will likely require 60 votes for passage. Only after both chambers have passed the conference report can the bill be sent to President Obama for a signature.

Tags: Healthcare by ecthompson md
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Man, these guys were huge for about five years.

Artist: The Brothers Johnson
Tune: Stomp

Tags: Music by ecthompson md
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As our incomes decrease and our expenses increase, our politicians say that they are on our side, fighting for us, but then they are the guys who are giving tax breaks to big business. These same politicians are the ones who are asking us to work harder. Yet we still vote these knuckleheads in office. We just don’t get it. It ain’t about us. It is about them, the big guys with their multi-million salaries and two or three or four houses.

From C&L:

It’s hitting the fan in California as students protest the grotesque 32% hikes in their college tuition.

Angry students at the Davis, California, branch of the University of California refused to vacate the school’s administration building Thursday evening in a show of defiance and protest over a 32-percent undergraduate tuition hike instituted by the California Board of Regents earlier in the day.

About 50 students remained in the building, which was supposed to close by 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET), UC Davis spokeswoman Claudia Morain told CNN. At one point, as many as 150 students were at the building protesting the tuition increase, she said. She said she hopes campus police can resolve the issue without the need to make arrests.

CNN affiliate KCRA captured footage of students outside the building shouting, “Who’s university? Our university!”

Nearly 400 miles south and hours earlier, hundreds of students marched and chanted against the increase while outside the UCLA building in Los Angeles where regents met to vote on the hike.

Protesting students and others say the increased tuition will hurt working and middle-class students who benefit from state-funded education. But officials argue that a fee increase and deep cuts in school spending are necessary because of a persistent budget crisis that has forced reductions across California’s state government.

California is in bad shape and it’s only to get worse.

Tags: Economy, Education by ecthompson md
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