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Two points here 1. Dylan has to slow it down when he's asking the question about ending the insurance anti-trust exemption. If people haven't been watching him they aren't gonna know what he's talking about. Joseph Cao totally missed it. Dylan is talking about the antitrust exemption that insurance companies have. The only other industry that gets an exemption from the Sherman Antitrust Act is Major League Baseball. The exemption allows for monopolies and health insurance have taken advantage. In Alabama Blue Cross Blue Shield has 64% of the market with government programs covering most of the rest of the market!
According to the data, Hawaii Medical Services Association (HMSA) has the highest share of the market in any state with 78%. Between HMSA and Kaiser Permanente, two plans have 98% of the market. WellPoint, Inc.'s Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan has 78% of the market in Maine, and Aetna Inc. has 10%, for a combined total of 88% in the state, the HCAN study finds. And in Idaho, two Blues plans, Blue Cross of Idaho and Regence Blue Shield of Idaho, together have 75% of the state's market.
2. Cao talks about individual responsibility and it got me wondering. How do Republicans square their individual responsibility mantra with the huge mommy state military that we all pay $680B for? How about some individual responsibility there, it's not like there aren't enough guns.
The boycott is cosponsored by Daily Kos, Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake, Dan Savage, Michelangelo Signorile, David Mixner, Paul Sousa (Founder of Equal Rep in Boston), Pam Spaulding, Robin Tyler (ED of the Equality Campaign, Inc.), Bil Browning for the Bilerico Project, and soon others.
It's really more of a "pause," than a boycott. Boycotts sounds so final, and angry. Whereas this campaign is temporary, and is only meant to help some friends - President Obama and the Democratic party - who have lost their way. We are hopeful that via this campaign, our friends will keep their promises.
Cao ultimately voted yea because, as he put it, "I had to make a decision of conscience based on the needs of the people in my district."
"I had to make a decision and I felt that last night's decision was the right decision for my district," he added. "Even though it was not the popular decision for my party."
#3 Paul Krugman discusses the dangers of the national Republican party following the California party into being a rump party. Which means they aren't interested in governing effectively, but are still significant to stop anyone else from getting the job done.
If this happens to America as a whole, as it all too easily could, the country could become effectively ungovernable in the midst of an ongoing economic disaster.
The point is that the takeover of the Republican Party by the irrational right is no laughing matter. Something unprecedented is happening here - and it's very bad for America.
#4We've Got Your Back, Adam Bonin has started a campaign to raise money for the Democrats in tough district who voted no on Stupak and Yes on HR 3962. So far today there's been $4585 raised today for 25 or so Democrats.
We passed the health care reform bill through the house. As Steny Hoyer just said in an interview standing side by side with Nancy Pelosi and other house leaders "it was a bipartisan vote".
219 Democrats and 1 Republican joined together - just two more than the 218 needed
Not really but that's one more yes vote than we got from our Alabama Delegation which includes 3 Democrats.
Who was the Republican vote? - Ahn Joseph Cao from New Orleans who replaced "Dollar" Bill Jefferson in the House.
A Federal jury convicted Former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson on 11 counts of taking bribes. Remember Jefferson's freezer was raided by the FBI in which nearly 100k was found. Jefferson had continued to serve in Congress even after the allegations were made and his freezer was raided.
Last year, voters in LA-02 decided to put corruption and old school politics to rest and elected Republican Joseph "Anh" Cao in a Democratic district with a +28 PVI.
My wife realized I needed a break from the blogging and kidnapped me for the night. We went to dinner with some friends and did a little shopping. Very relaxing day and got me out of my Sunday routine of political blogging, football and some Desperate Housewives. I'll admit that I love that show.
I apologize for not being able to get the podcast worked out with Congressman Elect Cao. Hopefully, I can make that happen this week.
I just found out that Oklahoma will be playing Florida in the BCS championship. Alabama will be playing Utah. I know absolutely nothing about this Utah team.
Nothing new on the Auburn coaching search. They are more worried about the Utah-Alabama matchup from what I can tell from checking out the Auburn message boards.
Update: The Show is being pushed back as Congressman Cao is still at another interview. Check back for interview here shortly.
Update II - I had been waiting on Cao's spokesperson to call back. I know they are extremely busy. Hopefully we can reschedule for later this evening or tomorrow. I've got to head out to go eat with a friend in from out of town. I'll be back in a couple of hours*
We are doing a special segment this afternoon with Joseph Cao who defeated Bill Jefferson (LA-02) last night. Joseph Cao will be the first Vietnamese member of Congress. He's got a fascinating story and we hope you will stop by to listen to his story.
This is perhaps the most shocking upset we've seen in a long time in Congressional races. Congressman Cao will be a Republican representing a very Democratic leaning district.
Click on this link to listen. Also if you missed it all our shows can be heard on the button to the left.
I'm absolutely shocked , but somewhat optimistic that Bill Jefferson was defeated tonight. I know nothing about Anh "Joseph" Cao (R) that defeated Bill "Cash in the Freezer" Jefferson tonight. Electing Jefferson would have sent the world a message that we put corruption and party over country. I'm a Democrat and a progressive one at that, but there is nothing progressive about electing a corrupt and vile individual.
I have found very little information on Cao althought I've learned that he will be the first Congressman of Vietnamese descent. Here's Cao's website which gives us some insight into Cao's background
Like many in New Orleans, on August 28, 2005, Joseph and his family fled from their home in Venetian Isles (located in New Orleans East) as Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on New Orleans. Returning in early September, Joseph saw that everything he possessed was destroyed, including his home and his law offices. Joseph would once again have to rebuild his life.
Determined to return and rebuild, in October of 2005 he moved his family to Westwego and began the rebuilding of his Orleans home and law office. His office would take three months to repair, his home a year and a half. Like the people of Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes who were ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, Joseph has endured struggles against insurance companies and the political leadership and has proven to be a leader in rebuilding the Vietnamese community. He assisted the residents in New Orleans East in their successful fight against a landfill that threatened to change the social fabric of their community. He fought energy and telecommunication companies to have basic necessities restored in a timely fashion.
Regardless of Cao's background, I'm fairly certain that Cao is going to be a one-term Congressman. However, I find it promising that we were able to elect Cao in a 75-80 % African American district. Surely Cao will be a moderate in a +28 district and hopefully one that works to help those that are still affected by the rebuilding process in New Orleans.
With all of the results now in from all of the precincts, the Louisiana SOS shows Cao winning by about 1,800 votes.
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