Thursday 10 October 2013

Shutdown 2013 with Bill Moyers, Jason Jones, Noelle Nikpour, and Gina Loudon

On Friday, October 4, 2013, Mr. Moyers published an interesting video essay about the government shutdown and the Republican Party.

"When the president refused to buckle to this extortion, they threw their tantrum," Bill says. "Like the die-hards of the racist South a century and a half ago, who would destroy the union before giving up their slaves, so would these people burn down the place, sink the ship."

That is an interesting comparison. The South disagreed with the North and that resulted in the Civil War. The Republicans disagree with the Democrats, specifically about Obamacare, and where will this lead?

Yet even after both the House and Senate approved it, the president signed it, and the Supreme Court upheld it, the Republicans keep insisting on calling the law a “bill,” thumbing their noses and refusing to accept that it is enacted legislation.

At one time, it would seem both major parties had the best interests of the American people in mind. They may have differed in the details, but basically they both worked for the benefit of the country. Today, the idea of what's best and how to achieve it is no longer grey; it seems to be black and white. If the Democrats say, "Up," the Republicans say, "Down." The two parties have become the polar opposites with no middle ground. The Republicans no longer say that they disagree with the Democrats; they are literally predicting the apocalypse.

Note: The official web site of Bill Moyers offers a full transcript of this video essay: On the Sabotage of Democracy

Is this a fair and balanced view of the current situation? If you are a Democrat, you will probably agree with Mr. Moyer's left perspective. If you're a Republican, I can imagine you saying, "Merde de taureau." And thus we continue: battle lines drawn. May the best man, er, side win.





Wait. I've got more!
On Monday, October 8, 2013, The Daily Show aired an episode that had me both startled and laughing out loud. Jason Jones (Canadian!), one of the show's so-called reporters, sat down to do an interview with Republican strategist Noelle Nikpour. It is totally ridiculous. The back and forth between Jones and Nikpour defies common sense. At one point, Jones throws up his hands and says, "I'm f**king done," then storms off the set. Nikpour looks shocked but what is truly bizarre, she doesn't leave. The hilarity continues when Jones enlists the help of a hostage negotiator in an attempt to get the government released from the GOP. This is a must see. Here are a couple of examples from the clip:

Jones: Give us back our government and include Obamacare because it's the law.

Nikpour: It's law but it's not good law. It's unconstitutional.

Jones: Even though the Supreme Court deemed it constitutional.

...

Nikpour: Obamacare is going to be one of the worst things in American history.

Jones: Do you remember f**king slavery?


Published on Oct 8, 2013 by William Morris
Jon Stewart Enlists an Actual Hostage Negotiator to Get Through to GOP (5:45)



And even more!
The following comes from the October 1, 2013 episode of The Daily Show.

Anne Filipic: president, Enroll America: We are offering quality affordable health coverage to millions of Americans across the country.

Gina Loudon, Conservative analyst: Obamacare is dangerous. Obamacare is a Ponzi scheme.

Ann Filipic: There are over 41 million people who stand to benefit this Fall with the new health insurance options that are coming.

Gina Loudon: Obamacare is bad for America. Obamacare is more like Obama doesn't care.

Jason Jones: See? You were so much better at reducing complicated ideas into meaningless phrases.

Gina Loudon: Well, as we like to say in the Conservative movement, we can explain it to you, we just can't understand it for you.

Jason Jones: Well, that's very condescending.

...

Ann Filipic: Starting October 1st, the health insurance marketplaces are going to launch. They are going to be required to cover the essentials. You can't be denied because of a pre-existing condition like asthma or even cancer. And financial help is going to be available. (my bold)

Jason Jones: They are offering millions of people affordable health care. I'm still trying to figure out what you're offering.

Gina Loudon: Our site has a plan and it's called the free market. The private system has worked really well for a long time.

Jason Jones: You know normally I do these interviews and I just ironically nod and agree with whatever the person is saying but... I don't know if I can with that one.


Published on Oct 3, 2013 by Madison Kay
Johnny Knoxville on the Importance of Health Insurance (5:29)
OMG! This is hilarious. Is Gina Loudon as dumb as Noelle Nikpour? Ha, ha, ha! FYI: Gina Loudon, that's Dr. Loudon Ph.D., is a Fox political commentator and apparently one of the 100 founding members of the Tea Party movement.




Final Word
"You can't be denied because of a pre-existing condition." Try that in the free market.

The GOP not only thinks it is right, it feels the moral obligation to save its country from the worst piece of legislation that has ever been put before the American people. Their position is one of a nobility of cause; their purpose is, for lack of another word, a divine right. And as the old saying goes, who needs facts when you have faith?


References

Wikipedia: Bill Moyers
Bill D. Moyers (born June 5, 1934) is an American journalist and liberal public commentator. He served as White House Press Secretary in the Johnson administration from 1965 to 1967. He also worked as a network TV news commentator for ten years. Moyers has been extensively involved with public broadcasting, producing documentaries and news journal programs. He has won numerous awards and honorary degrees for his investigative journalism and civic activities. He has become well known as a trenchant critic of the U.S. media (particularly modern, corporately structured news media). Since 1990, Moyers has been President of the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy.

official web site: Bill Moyers

Bill Moyers - Oct 4/2013
Video Essay: On the Sabotage of Democracy
This week’s government shutdown has consequences for all of us, costing an estimated $300 million each day that the government is closed for business. Many Americans have voiced their frustrations with the fallout from the shutdown on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using the hash tag #DearCongress. Here, Bill Moyers shares his own thoughts on the shutdown, and the resulting sabotage of democracy.

Wikipedia: United States federal government shutdown of 2013
On October 1, 2013, the United States federal government entered a government shutdown, forcing furloughs of 800,000 workers and suspension of services not exempted by the Antideficiency Act.

The Daily Show: October 8, 2013

Canada: The Comedy Network

United States: Comedy Central

2013-10-10

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