Health Care: this is what I like to see!

Yes, this ad is targeting certain “blue dog” Democrats (and a few Republicans):

Now the scope of the campaign is expanding. The ad will appear in the media markets that overlap with the congressional districts of 15 members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Eleven of those districts belong to Democrats, including Rep. Zack Space (Ohio), Rep. John Barrow (Georgia), Rep. Jay Inslee (Washington), Rep. Mike Ross (Arkansas), Rep. Bart Gordon (Tennessee), Rep. Baron Hill (Indiana), Rep. Charlie Melancon (Louisiana), Rep. Mike Doyle (Pennsylvania), Rep. Jim Matheson (Utah), Rep. Bart Stupak (Michigan), Rep. Jerry McNerney (California).

The four Republican districts belong to Rep. Fred Upton (Michigan), Rep. Mary Bono Mack (California), and Rep. Greg Walden (Oregon), Rep. Sue Myrick (North Carolina)

For reform advocates, the Energy and Commerce Committee remains the toughest venue of the three committees handling health care in the House of Representatives, in large part because of the Blue Dog and moderate Democrats that make up its ranks. In making this purchase, Organizing for America either is worried about the committee’s progress or — much more likely — sending a message that it has no problem applying pressure on fellow party members.

It is about time!!!

If you want to chip in to run these ads, go here.

Quips…18 July 09, Boxing and Bikinis

Boxing Last night’s Friday Night Fights was interesting. In an early super bantam weight bout, Guillermo Rigondeaux (2-0) knocked out Roberto Guillen (4-3-3) with a wicked left hook to the ribs; at the time Guillen was the busier fighter but Rigondeaux was picking his spots and landing more effective punches. When the left landed, Guillen immediately went down and crumpled up in pain; it was one of the most effective body shots I have ever seen.

In the main event, Miguel Vazquez (25-3, 12 KOs) was knocked down in the first round by no. 7 ranked Breidis Prescott (21-1, 18 KOs) by a jab. But Vazquez came back and dominated the next 9 rounds to win 95-94, 96-93 for Vazquez, 97-92 Prescott.

Though my card had the fight a bit closer than Teddy Atlas had it (Atlas had it 98-91 Vazquez, giving Prescott a 10-8 first round and the rest 10-9 Vazquez), I still don’t understand what the judge who scored it 97-92 Prescott was thinking.

Fun: Huffington Post has a swim suit contest where you can vote on the “hotness” of the various swim suits. Some are wearable, some are bikinis and some are thongs.

Rocket Run 5K 2009: Reality

It was cool and breezy; perfect for this time of year. Nevertheless, as I warmed up my legs felt heavy; warming up took a while.

Still mile 1 came at 7:34; but this was partially wind aided and downhill. Still, the fantasy felt good and I aimed to catch the big pack ahead of me.

I never did. As we gained back the elevation and turned into the wind, reality set in: 8:02 or 15:36. Breaking 24 wasn’t going to happen and sub 25 wasn’t assured.

In the last stretch the pack ahead of me started to pull away and I could do little about it; I did pass one young man who was throwing up though.

You have two uphills just prior to the finish and I saw the clock at 24:2x and I had to pick it up; I wanted an “official sub 25″ but didn’t get it; I had to settle for a “watch” sub 25.

Interestingly enough, my place at the end of 1 mile was my place in the race, save the one sick young man. I was running in “never never” land between two large packs.

Analysis: when I was running those low 24s, I was also running a couple of 7-8 mile runs a week plus a weekend race and I haven’t done that in a while For now, running will be a way of getting an aerobic workout while I work on my walking technique.

Yes, one can walk hard enough to get out of breath, but when I do that my technique just turns to trash.

Healthcare Saturday 18 July 09

Note: I had a link to something; it turned out to be a hoax and it was therefore deleted.

The Congressional Budge Office PDF report is here; this is legitimate.

Yes, you’ll hear lots of stuff from the other side.

So, just ask yourself a simple question: just what have they been right about, ever? How about: what have they been right about during the previous administration? Listen.

Health Care Friday

Paul Krugman is too subtle. Please, tell us what you really think.

Actually, 1 2007 proposal by one of those 6 might actually provide meaningful reform; it has the support of some Republicans too.

Note that the Republicans are trotting out the CBO report which predicts that the current plan will NOT reduce health care costs. Too bad that they didn’t pay attention to the same office previously.