Whoa! If Obama is surprised, his problem bigger than anyone could imagine. That scene from Barton Fink [...]]]>

Today, Robert Gibbs, White House press secretary said that President Obama was both surprised and frustrated about the tight race between Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown as they battle for the senate seat vacated by Teddy Kennedy.

Whoa! If Obama is surprised, his problem bigger than anyone could imagine. That scene from Barton Fink runs through my mind, the scene where John Goodman leans into John Tuturro’s face and screams:
“you know what your problem is… you… just… don’t…  listen!”

Obama. Listen up. Put a muzzle on yappy Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. When you get to be one with the refreshing quietude, maybe you will be able to hear the American people. We don’t want this health care reform. We’re clueless about what’s in the package and are mistrustful of the fact that you don’t seem to think you need share such vital information with us. This reform seems like some trophy you and the Democrats desperately want to win, some fight to the death you got yourself into that will not have any winners. I take that back. There will indeed be winners, big winners:

1. The health insurers, who will be given tens of millions of new customers, newly required by law to purchase their wares
2. The gluttonous pharmaceutical corporations, whom you’ve so generously promised that our government, their largest customer, won’t compete or negotiate on drug prices.
3. Those states whose clever representatives managed to grab hold of your balls and wouldn’t let go until you promised their states pork packages in exchange for their votes.

Who knows how today’s election will end. But one thing is for sure.

You’ve got a big problem. You… just… don’t… listen! Or maybe, you… just… don’t… care.

Below, my cartoon for this week’s Independent:

The Dems are engaged in a fingerpointing yell-a-thon over what they call “misinformation” coming from the right. Yet Obama seems to be dishing out some of his own “misinformation.” Yes, a mandatory health insurance plan is the same thing as a tax, no matter how deftly Obama sidesteps a straight answer on the [...]]]> (click to enlarge)

The Dems are engaged in a fingerpointing yell-a-thon over what they call “misinformation” coming from the right. Yet Obama seems to be dishing out some of his own “misinformation.” Yes, a mandatory health insurance plan is the same thing as a tax, no matter how deftly Obama sidesteps a straight answer on the question. It may even be worse. Will we be told what the actual penalty will be for not having insurance? And all indications are that Obama’s going awfully soft on the pharmaceutical industry, which earns $300 billion in profit a year. For the paltry sum of $8 billion a year Obama has agreed not to seek additional concessions from the pharmaceutical industry including not allowing the government to use it’s enormous purchasing power to negotiate lower prices on the drugs it purchases through Medicare. Why shouldn’t he go just as soft with the insurance industry? The middle class will be forced onto a silver platter and delivered, as a delicious windfall of millions of new customers, to the insurers. That sound you hear is the insurers smacking their lips in anticipation.
And excuse me for asking this, but if the government is so concerned that we all accept responsibility for our health, why is smoking still legal? Woopsie! I forgot about the all powerful tobacco lobby. Obama, put down that cigarette!