Brits Fear "American-Style" Health Care

The Los Angeles Times looks at the health care debate going on in the UK.

Britain is now embroiled in a healthcare argument of its own, prompted by a proposed shake-up of the NHS. And the phrase on everyone's lips is "American-style," which may not be as catchy as the "death panels" that Palin attributed to socialized medicine but which, over here, inspires pretty much the same kind of terror. Ask a Briton to describe "American-style" healthcare, and you'll hear a catalog of horrors that include grossly expensive and unnecessary medical procedures and a privatized system that favors the rich. For a people accustomed to free healthcare for all, regardless of income, the fact that millions of their cousins across the Atlantic have no insurance and can't afford decent treatment is a farce as well as a tragedy. But critics here warn that a similarly bleak future may await Britain if a government plan to put more power in the hands of doctors and introduce more competition into the NHS succeeds — privatization by stealth, they say.

Frothy Mix: WWII Veterans Did Not Storm Normandy For Health Care Reform

Crazy Eyes: I Will Repeal "Obamacare"

At today's Faith & Freedom Coalition Conference.

Gen. Jerry Boykin: Obama Is Creating a Private Marxist Army Of Brownshirts

Boykin is a retired U.S. Army general and the former United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence.

Crazy Eyes: All Republicans Didn't Vote Against It But All Hate Obamacare

Anthony Weiner: Justice Clarence Thomas Must Recuse Himself On Health Care Fight

Watch our hero hand the Fox anchor her head.

Crazy Eyes: I Found $105B In Secret Obamacare Funding

"This is legislative fraud that's been perpetrated by the president, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid."

Phyllis Schlafly: "Obamacare" Is The Centerpiece Of His Plan For Socialism

Pat Robertson Loses "Obamacare" Suit To Exempt Faith Healing Practitioners

A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit filed by Pat Robertson which was intended to allow people to exempt themselves from buying health insurance because God is going to cure all their illnesses.

Three of the plaintiffs — Margaret Peggy Lee Mead of Hillsborough, N.C., Charles Edward Lee of San Antonio and Susan Seven-Sky of West Harrison, N.Y. — are Christians who said they want to refuse all medical services for the rest of their lives because they believe God will heal their afflictions. They say being forced to buy insurance would conflict with their faith because they believe doing so would indicate they need "a backup plan and (are) not really sure whether God will, in fact, provide," the lawsuit said.

Robertson himself did not depend on the grace of Jeebus when he underwent ten hours of open heart surgery in 2009.

(Tipped by JMG reader Paul)

Crazy Eyes: Health Care Reform Is The Crown Jewel Of Socialism

You Lie!

Rep. Weiner: The GOP Lies So Much About Health Care It Should Be A Drinking Game

CLASSIC rant from our favorite House Democrat.

GOP Lawmakers: You Can't Have Health Care, But We're Keeping Ours

Think Progress compiled this clip of GOP House members who today will vote to repeal "Obamacare." But none of them intend to give up their own "government-sponsored health insurance."

Actual Name Of The Bill: "Repealing the Job Killing Health Care Law Act"

GOProud Issues 2011 Agenda

GOProud prefaces the release of its 2011 agenda with this message:

The so-called “gay agenda” is defined by the left through a narrow prism of legislative goals. In contrast to the approach of the left, GOProud’s agenda emphasizes conservative and libertarian principles that will improve the daily lives of all Americans, but especially gay and lesbian Americans.

On their list of 2011 legislative goals: The repeal of healthcare reform, opposition to gun control, defense of constitutional originalism, cuts in corporate taxes, support for school vouchers, and opposition to federal marriage reform. Not stated is GOProud's opposition to ENDA, which we presume has not changed.

Crocodile Tears

Steve King: If You Don't Like Your Health Care Options, Move To Another State

Jared Polis Vs. Nutcase Steve. King

Openly gay Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) tangled today with lunatic Rep. Steve King (R-IA), who says that health care reform is unconstitutional because some babies are born in trash cans and never see a doctor. I sincerely have zero idea what that is supposed to mean.

Quote Of The Day - Rep. Steve King

"The basis for the individual mandate was the Commerce Clause -- that Congress has the constitutional authority to regulate commerce between the states. [But] not accessing healthcare from any source, let alone not purchasing health insurance, none of that is interstate commerce and should not be.

"The dozen or so new Republican governors and the almost 700 new Republicans in the state legislatures, they can throw a lot of wrenches in the works by refusing to accept some of the mandates from ObamaCare...deciding not to participate in it and joining the lawsuits through the court side. The third piece is Congress can't rely on any of that to get the job done for us; we have to do the job ourselves as well. That means passing a stand-alone repeal of ObamaCare." - Wingnut Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), saying that the U.S. House can repeal health care reform "in the first few days of the new session."

VIRGINIA: Judicial Activist Rules Parts Of Health Care Reform Unconstitutional

A Virginia federal district court judge appointed by Dubya has ruled that parts of President Obama's health care reform plan are unconstitutional. The lawsuit was brought by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

In a 42-page opinion issued in Richmond, Va., Judge Hudson wrote that the law’s central requirement that most Americans obtain health insurance exceeds the regulatory authority granted to Congress under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The insurance mandate is central to the law’s mission of covering more than 30 million uninsured because insurers argue that only by requiring healthy people to have policies can they afford to treat those with expensive chronic conditions. The judge wrote that his survey of case law “yielded no reported decisions from any federal appellate courts extending the Commerce Clause or General Welfare Clause to encompass regulation of a person’s decision not to purchase a product, not withstanding its effect on interstate commerce or role in a global regulatory scheme.”

Two other district court judges have previously upheld the law and some expect the issue to reach the Supreme Court before the end of Obama's term. Dozens of similar lawsuits are still working their way through the system.

RELATED: As in the case with the judicial overturn of DADT, the Obama administration has the option of appealing this ruling.

UPDATE: The teabaggers are ecstatic.

"Mr. Cuccinelli has been a true leader in the cause of freedom and constitutionally limited government. His win is also a victory for the entire Tea Party movement and constitutional conservatives everywhere. Now more than ever, Tea Partiers and constitutional conservatives must rally behind and support Ken Cuccinelli as he takes his case--and the Gadsden flag ("Don't tread on me") that decorates his office--through the appeals process. It's time for all freedom-loving Americans to let Ken know that we're behind him every step through final resolution--and victory--in his case at the U.S. Supreme Court."

UPDATE II: As are the homocons.

Today, a District Court judge ruled portions of Obamacare unconstitutional. In response, Christopher R. Barron, Chairman of GOProud’s Board, issued the following statement: “This decision is a victory for individual liberty. Americans everywhere, but especially gay Americans, should celebrate this decision – a decision that rightfully makes it clear the federal government does not have the Constitutional authority to force Americans to purchase health insurance.”