New Rule: You Can’t Use “There Will Be No Cooperation for the Rest of the Year” as a Threat If There Was No Cooperation in the First Half of the Year.

By Bill Maher
Host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher”

New Rule: You can’t use the statement “there will be no cooperation for the rest of the year” as a threat if there was no cooperation in the first half of the year. Here’s a word the president should take out of his teleprompter: bipartisanship. People only care about that in theory, not in practice. The best thing that’s happened this year is when President Obama finally realized this and said, “Kiss my black ass, we’re going it alone, George W. Bush style.”

Two months ago, conservative Fred Barnes wrote, “The health care bill is dead with not the slightest prospect of resurrection.” Well, if it’s dead, you just got your ass kicked by a zombie named Nancy Pelosi. Seriously, the last time a Democrat showed balls like that John Edwards’ girlfriend was filming it. Make all the botox jokes and she-shops-too-much jokes you want, but this is the biggest political victory a woman has ever achieved in America. Yes, Nancy Pelosi likes nice clothes. So does Sarah Palin. The difference is Nancy Pelosi pays for hers.

But even before the Democrats got to take a single victory lap they were already being warned not to get used to the feeling, and not to get drunk with power. I disagree. All you Democrats: do a shot, and then do another. Get drunk on this feeling of not backing down and doing what you came to Washington to do.

Democrats should not listen to the people who are now saying they shouldn’t attempt anything else big for a while because health care was such a bruising battle. Wrong — because I learned something watching the lying bullies of the Right lose this one: when they’re losing, they squeal like a pig. They kept saying things like, the bill was being “shoved down our throats” or the Democrats were “ramming it through.” The bill was so big they couldn’t take it all at once!

And I realized listening to this rhetoric that it reminded me of something: Tiger Woods’ text messages to his mistress that were made public last week, where he said, and I quote, “I want to treat you rough, throw you around, spank and slap you and make you sore. I want to hold you down and choke you while I fuck that ass that I own. Then I’m going to tell you to shut the fuck up while I slap your face and pull your hair for making noise.” Unquote.

And this, I believe, perfectly represents the attitude Democrats should now have in their dealings with the Republican Party: “Shut the fuck up while I slap your face for making noise — now pass a cap-and-trade law, you stupid bitch, and repeat after me: ‘global warming is real!’”

The Democrats need to push the rest of their agenda while their boot is on the neck of the greedy, poisonous old reptile. Who cares if a cap-and-trade bill isn’t popular, neither was health care. Your poll numbers may have descended a bit, but so did your testicles.

So don’t stop: we need to regulate the banks, we need to overhaul immigration, we need to end corporate welfare including at the Pentagon, we need to bring troops home from… everywhere, we need to end the drug war, and we need to put terrorists and other human rights violators on trial in civilian courts, starting with Dick Cheney.

Democrats in America were put on earth to do one thing: drag the ignorant hillbilly half of this country into the next century, which in their case is the 19th — and by passing health care, the Democrats saved their brand. A few months ago, Sarah Palin mockingly asked them, “How’s that hopey-changey thing working out for ya?” Great, actually. Thanks for asking. And how’s that whole Hooked on Phonics thing working out for you?

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In an attempt to overhaul the U.S financial system, Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has unveiled draft legislation that would bring major changes to the existing regulatory system. The proposal would create three new agencies while eliminating several others with the objective of monitoring bank practices and protecting consumers.

The 1,100 page draft bill offers more sweeping change than legislation that has recently been proposed by the White House and in the House of Representatives. Senator Dodd’s proposal removes most of the Federal Reserve’s banking oversight and consumer protection powers, leaving it the primarily in charge of monetary policy. Additionally, the bill calls for the establishment of a “Super Regulator” to oversee all banks. This new agency, called the Financial Institutions Regulatory Administration, would absorb the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision. It would also assume banking oversight powers currently held by the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit of Insurance Corp.

The idea of a single banking regulator is sure to be controversial. In fact, the American Bankers Association has already voiced its opposition, citing the failure of a similar system in Great Britain. Additionally, small community banks are opposed to a single banking regulator based system. As it stands, the FDIC works in conjunction with the states to regulate state-chartered banks. Under the new plan a special community banking division would be created within the super regulator, forcing the same agency to focus on both the largest and smallest banking institutions.

Senator Dodd’s plan would also create an Agency for Financial Stability. Headed by a board of directors that includes the Treasury secretary, the Federal Reserve chairman and other top regulators, the stability agency would oversee financial practices that could potentially threaten the entire financial system. It would also be granted new powers to break up “too-big-to-fail” companies.

The bill’s creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency is sure to be a sticking point with Republicans and big bank supporters. This agency would oversee bank products like mortgages and credit cards. A similar agency is included in the House of Representatives version of the bill and the opposition to this requirement has been fierce. In order to pass the House bill, exceptions to stronger rules were included for industries like auto dealers and title insurers.

As expected, the proposal would impose new restrictions on the troubled derivatives market and on credit rating agencies. It would also require hedge funds to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, the draft includes provisions that would reshape the way that the 12 regional Federal Reserve Boards are structured.

Senator Dodd’s proposed legislation has a long way to go before consideration on the Senate floor. In fact, his draft proposal is already hitting roadblocks within his own committee. With such sweeping change to so many regulatory agencies and practices, it will be interesting to follow the progress or sudden death of this aggressive proposal. If the recent fireworks in the House of Representatives are any indication, it’s sure to be a good show.

Reggie Britt is a consumer loan software developer for institutions serving the small loan customer.

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Why is Congress so afraid of the public option as part of health reform? Why are politicians getting so worked up about a system that every other Western country already has, and which works so well in all of them? Why do they not want to extend Medicare, a widely supported and valuable system that even the most ardent republicans are now praising? Why are they afraid of a competitive system that will force insurance companies to be more honest and keep their premiums reasonable? Why do they want to seemingly continue with our current broken expensive inefficient health system?

Is the public option really that scary?

Of course not.

So let’s look at this question? What are the reasons?

Doubtless some politicians have strong philosophical views that preclude them supporting the public option – that is fair enough, and at least they can tell their constituents without any health insurance in perfect honesty that they would like them to remain in the same uninsured state for the foreseeable future.

Others are clearly in the pockets of the insurance companies, and have listened to too many industry lobbyists giving positive presentations containing inaccurate data. They have taken contributions from the companies, and feel a sense of alignment as a consequence. They may even have some of these companies based in their states, allowing them the self-deception that they are helping retain jobs in their own states by opposing the public option.

But most of them are scared. They are scared of making decisions. They are scared of change. They are scared of losing their seats, and their power and influence. They are scared of upsetting their current position. They would prefer to retain the status quo, and are afraid of a different world. We need to examine why this is the case. What will make them less scared. What will give them the courage to stand up and promote change, when it is so patently needed?

Members of Congress need to understand that if they can identify this fear, as fear of change, that they will be able to conquer it and move forward. Congress is well known as a slow moving place, where change happens at a glacial pace, so it is hardly surprising that our representatives are suddenly scared of the rapid pace of potential change, and are frightened.

And it is true that some of them have much to lose. They may be up for re-election and feel considerable pressure from advocacy groups and funders. But they have to make a decision. Do they stand up for themselves, and do something right? Do they make a vote to save lives? Do they try and help save the life of the many people currently dying needlessly in our wonderful land of plenty? Do they take the advice of 70% of doctors, like myself, who support the need for a public option to help keep the health system more honest?

Fear of change can be overcome. Remember that a life without change is often boring and monotonous. Think how much more fulfilled our Congressmen will feel for having done the “right thing” and voted to implement change, and a public option in healthcare. Change is essential in our lives. It opens up new vistas and opportunities. When you face change, and overcome it, you can then go on and face more changes in your life and successfully overcome them. And enjoy your life more.

Our politicians need to overcome their fear. The public option is not really a scary story. Change must be embraced. They need to do the right thing for themselves, for their constituents, and for their country. This way they will grow, and will become bigger and better people. For that is what happens when you embrace change and move on and overcome your fear.

Peter Yellowlees MD has recently published “Your Health in the Information Age – how you and your doctor can use the Internet to work together”. It is available at http://www.InformationAgeHealth.com and most online bookstores.

Technorati Tags: Health Care, health reform, Insurance Companys, Politics, public option, Republican Lies