• AdLib : Thanks Murph, best back to you, sleep well!

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Agreed. Midnight. I am in need of slumber. Have a good weekend. Best to you and yours.

  • AdLib : Murph – That’s great news, I was hoping that kind of thing would happen. As people flooded into the exchanges, the companies that rejected the exchanges would recognize how much they were losing out on and join in. Not bad that they will match but I would hope people wouldn’t get suckered in by them since they could turn around and change their terms whenever they chose. Hope people choose an exchange policy instead and the companies that wouldn’t join in relent and join the exchanges.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Ad Lib…absolutely . I have neighbors who have huge decisions to make and we are urging everyone to take the time they need. They have until March in this first open enrollment. Oh….here is something…two insurance companies in this state that are not in the exchange have now declared that they will match any other company’s bonafide offer. AND two major hospitals that were originally opting out of inclusion in coverage groups have changed their minds.

  • AdLib : Murph – It is outrageous that one wealthy man can control an entire state the way Pope does. I don’t know how NC climbs out of this snake pit.

  • AdLib : Murph – I see, so it is not surprising then that signups are few right now, most people are still looking through plans.

  • AdLib : It really is a kind of a state of siege that the GOP and states and towns dominated by the GOP are under. A kind of political tyranny, where free thought is attacked and conformity to hostile and destructive policies a requirement. They are like the Koch’s personal army, occupying parts of the nation.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Ad My student/friend is very disappinted. The city council, the mayor, are all running scared…Pope’s money reaches into every town.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Ad- at this point people are registering with the sites and applying to get the bidding packets that show them their options. After they get those packets they can call the 800 number, or go to see a counselor, or go on line to have a chat. Signing up for a certain policy is the third step. WE are being told that it is important to let people find their way through the maze with a bit of help from us. For many of these people this is their first time dealing with something of this kind.

  • AdLib : Murph – That’s very disappointing to hear, how these baggers abuse democracy as a hammer on those who won’t conform and attack it as an enemy when it represents a threat to their forcing their will on others.

  • AdLib : Congrats on your teaching, CL! Teachers do get good calf muscles!

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Choice- the very best to you and your fellow crusaders!

  • AdLib : CL and Murph – I keep hearing stories that the number of people registered under the exchanges is in the single digits. Is that true?

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Ad- I have a former student with whom I regularly communicate who was a Chicago cop and has been a NC sheriff for 10 years now. The TP in his little corner of that state is NOT happy with him because he has made it clear that efforts to intimidate voters will not be tolerated. SO….they are pushing the city council to change the method of getting a sheriff from selection by the council to election. All in the name of Democracy. He says everyone knows that their plan is to force their choice on the electorate. His sweet little town is in chaos.

  • choicelady : Dear and beloved friends – I seriously have nothing left in me to carry on. Thank you both for all you are doing for justice. I love being here knowing you both are. And now – to bed. I am discovering that teaching a new class for two hours on my feet is no longer something I do without consequence. I’m exhausted! See you next week!

  • AdLib : CL – It’s a perfect storm for them. Democracy is not viable for these extremists, it is in fact antithetical to their concept of a religious state. So, either way they need to subvert democracy but now it is no longer a choice, they have no other path now that they’ve poisoned a majority against them.

  • choicelady : AdLib – it also had delays due to overwhelming demand Tuesday-yesterda y. Better now I think. A LOT of people thought they could register ONLY now. They are sighing a large sigh of relief they can think about it for a bit. But the need is CLEARLY there.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Choice- thanks. All that you do in CA is speaking to the nation.

  • choicelady : AdLib – I honestly think it’s actually more pernicious than just having this as their last stand – it is what they truly desire. It is part of their belief that the NATION can be reborn as a Christian capitalist state crafted and thus renewed by their guidance for Jesus and God. SERIOUSLY think that is the driving motive.

  • AdLib : CL – Was the CA Exchange website working well?

  • choicelady : Murph – we are trying to get our folks to think about going the next step to becoming a Certified Enrollment Counselor which is what we call a Navigator. I am SO impressed with YOU and what you are doing! It is critical work. Thank you for doing it.’

  • AdLib : CL – Well, the GOP has accepted that they can’t get what they want through democracy because they’ve alienated the majority. They’re not the type to accept defeat so instead, they’ve plotted on how to subvert democracy to get what they want. This is their only path anymore.

  • choicelady : Murph – we have had out folks out in the world getting HUGE reception from people. The CA Exchange was overwhelmed by calls just as the national web and phone were. People WANT this. I loved the Stephen Colbert comment that this overwhelming response proves no one wants it or some such. Very funny – if I could remember it.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Choice- I had my first day today as a Navigator…real ly moving. I heard so many stories of desperation and of relief that fluctuated between sadness/anxiety/ fear/anger about the lack of meaningful health care for “people like us.”

  • AdLib : Murph – That makes a lot of sense as to why Boehner is so vulnerable as a Speaker. His fear of being taken down is greater than any worry about going down in history as the worst Speaker in US history or in being seen as a spineless coward.

  • choicelady : Murph – I heard that from a Dem and was shocked. These GOP homewreckers are seriously wishing to kill democracy.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Choice- my good friend. SO good to see you. Any ACA experiences to share?

  • MurphTheSurf3 : The Dems have accepted a CR that is at the Ryan level…and still the GOP pushes for more concessions….t hat says it all.

  • choicelady : Hi AdLib – good to see you, too.

  • AdLib : Hey CL! Great to see you!

  • choicelady : Hi you two. I’m in and out in a trice – I’m so tired my eyes are crossing. Read your assessments and think they may be the way Boehner goes, but I personally would like to see a revolt by the mods (and yes, I understand the oxymoronic conjunction there) to hoist him on his own petard. Other than that – how are you both?

  • AdLib : Murph – Boehner has in other instances, not followed that BS Hastert Rule and I think that’s what will eventually happen here but he has to posture against it until he gets a backroom agreement with Obama on a face-saving “win” that will come after that. Still, they are getting a drastically cut CR just as they wanted with the sequester cuts still in it, that is an unqualified win for them in any case.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : A friend of mine who really understands the culture of blue collar politicians (and that is still what B is) says that once they succeed their worst nightmare is to be taken down as it seems to them be the undoing of all they are….such insecurity.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Ad Lib….I agree with your scenario….for the sake of, in the hope of future deal making AND, maybe, making room for a moderate resurgence…the O folk will those B a bone. Boehner has to make a choice- does the Tea Party kneecap him or the Plutocrats break his neck. Some choice.

  • AdLib : Murph – How do you think the SHutdown-Debt Ceiling will finally resolve?

  • AdLib : Murph – That makes the most sense, having time to see what’s going on and all.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Sally…I PROMISE to make the time this week….you do know that I screen capture four or five a week and drop them into an archive folder entitled: “Sally on Sunday”

  • AdLib : Murph – Hmm…I don’t know for sure but I think it will be like I described below. Obama and Dems will make an unofficial deal as a face saver for Boehner, like dropping the tax on medical devices, but only after the CR and Debt Ceiling get a vote and are passed. Obama and Dems will claim it was not connected to the hostage taking and Boehner and Repubs will crow about how they won something…butt hough their PR will pump that up, Obamacare will be going strong and their victory will be meager.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Ad..probably…b ut it will be weeks before I get a good sense of what I am doing and can see the trends.

  • AdLib : Night Sally! Sleep well!

  • SallyT : I welcome suggestions, Murph, and especially yours. Trust me, AdLib, I am getting better at lining them up and remembering to put the date on! Murph, you let me know if you like the first one this week, if nothing else. Night Guys!

  • AdLib : So Murph, would you consider posting an article about your experiences as a Navigator? I think it would really be enlightening.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Well…Ad…you and me again…..May I ask you how you see the Shutdown/Debt Ceiling Thing playing out?

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Good night, Sally….and bravo.

  • AdLib : See you then, Sally!

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Sally…in no way are any of my suggestions a critique….I just want your extraordinary work appreciated and discussed..So… all I can do is give you the occasional standing ovation and make a comment here or there.

  • SallyT : Okay, I will leave you two to your conversation and see you in the Funnies!

  • SallyT : Murph, I might do that one of these times. But, AdLib will tell you that I don’t get done with them anymore until way late Saturday night or the wee hours of Sunday morning. Once I get them lined up, I just don’t want to pull them out again. And, my favorites change through the week. But, I will try that one of these times. But, like I said earlier, my very favorite is the first one this Sunday. I hope it makes you laugh!

  • AdLib : Sally – I thought Tea Partiers WERE cartoons.

  • MurphTheSurf3 : Sally…here is a thought…maybe a good one….how about taking 10 or so cartoons that are, in your judgement, “the best of the week”, and put them first in the list…..I quick review gives the casual viewer a sense of the week that was. Then folks like me can dive in deep. I wonder….