Comments Posted By hector
Displaying 1 To 10 Of 34 Comments
BAUCUS REFORM PLAN HAS SOME MERIT
I agree with your assessment that the Baucus plan has a lot of good points that deserve attention and should be examined. That said, the devil will be in the details.
For example: "4. Physician and hospital “value based” purchasing. The proposal would reward hospitals for the quality of their care for high cost services and reward doctors for not ordering unnecessary tests in some cases."
Who will determine what are "unnecessary tests"? Despite biology and chemistry being a science, medicine is a merger of science and art. What works for one person doesn't work for another and therefore an unncessary test for one person, is a necessary step for another to diagnose.
These "unnecessary steps savings" concept will not fly especially since the plan doesn't address tort reform. Any savings/rewards for doctors may not offset the loss in the "sue the pants off them and make me instantly rich" mentality that exists today.
At the end of the day, I guess my bias will always be that a bill that doesn't address tort reform will fail to bring down the costs which is the Administration's reason for spending all this time, attention and money.
Comment Posted By Hector On 9.09.2009 @ 10:25
OBL, THOMPSON, AND THE LONG WAR
well and thoughtful post. While I am not all that sold on Thompson, he moderate well-measured statements on the economy, taxes, and social programs, unlike the other candidates of both the Dem and GOP side (which do not inspire me in the least), are making him more palatable to me every day.
Comment Posted By hector On 8.09.2007 @ 10:59
Congrats. Great choice on the part of a good site.
Comment Posted By hector On 16.07.2007 @ 20:07
LIVEBLOGGING THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS - JULY 2, 1776
Another reason I make it a point to visit your site everyday. Very good writing, mastery of sound reasoning, and outstanding imagination. great subject today.
Comment Posted By hector On 2.07.2007 @ 14:52
FRED: "BUT WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW?"
Thompson is playing the election smartly. The electorate both left and right, based on polling, are demonstrating a disgust with the inside the beltway mentality which is what will ultimately doom McCain. The Conservative base is not wholly sold on Guiliani due to his social liberalism nor on Romney. This leaves Thompson. Thompson, like a good movie, has shown the electorate a very interesting "movie trailer" and has the audience wanting to see more. By not showing the whole movie, it captures the imagination of the audience/electorate who start picturing something they have not seen or start inserting what they would like to see. Hopefully, the whole movie doesn't disappoint.
Comment Posted By Hector On 13.06.2007 @ 08:41
Another factor which in all of this is the surprising early beginning of the 08 campaign. It seems to have created an already "shot your wad" mood with the electorate towards the candidates. Thompson could use this to his advantage. He is seeing what the electorate is gravitating to and can them massage/polish his message to appeal to them. He has also learned that the Internet can garner attention and raise money much like Dean did in 04. In the early season, lots of money and large staff is not needed.
Marilyn is the super secret double mole who turns out to be the braintrust of the bad guys. No doubt.
I am still reeling from the realization that it is soooo easy to break into a high security facility by just walking through the sewer and blowing up two or four bolts that hold the grate in place. And the facility doesn't stink?Milo had to die. Nadia can now fall for "lil Ricky" guilt-free. Meet the new dynamic couple of CTU. "lil Ricky" will be around next season. Especially since "lil Ricky" saved Nadia.
Jack will be real lonely when he had to kill his father AND kill the potential replacement for needlenose. Adds drama to next season when Jack is now a single father.
Comment Posted By Hector On 15.05.2007 @ 13:14
Well said. Here in DC, Weather was perfect and the cherry trees have a hint of pink as the cherry blossom buds are beginning to burst open. Spent the day, in a hammock, with a beer and a very good book. All was right in the world until my Bulldog decided he wanted to spend time in the hammock as well.
Comment Posted By Hector On 26.03.2007 @ 10:02
CPAC REVEALS CONSERVATIVE FRACTURES
Interesting post. I too find myself wondering exactly what kind of conservative I am. That said, I have found myself in the last three elections no longer voting straight party ticket. This now requires me to be a much better informed voter and spending countless hours doing candidate research, especially in state/local elections. I often wonder how many people go out and vote straight party without really thinking about it. During the last Presidential election, I thought I read that each party knows that automatically they can rely on 40-45% of the electorate to vote their way and the real politcal slugfest is to win over the last 10-20%. I think this is a real sad commentary.
Comment Posted By Hector On 2.03.2007 @ 10:20
MASSIVE RALLY HONORS MEMORY OF HARIRI, SUPPORTS SINIORA
Well stated. If anything, Lebanon stands as a symbol the Arab people, despite being under the thumb of dictators for years, still yearn for a democratic/liberal form of government and not afraid to voice their support.
Comment Posted By Hector On 14.02.2007 @ 14:15
You need to include a Miloism of the week instead of a Chloeism. Or possibly a Chloeism/Miloism of the week. Milo is pretty good at throwing out the zingers.
Comment Posted By Hector On 30.01.2007 @ 11:42
