QandO

July 28, 2004

John Edwards' Two Americas
Posted by Dale Franks

Blogging live during John Edwards' Speech:

Doesn't want insurance companies and HMOs to ration healthcare.

Then who? There isn't an unlimited supply of health care. It's gotta be rationed somehow. If insurer's or patients themselves aren't, then I guess it'll be the government that does it under Kerry/Edwards. But make no mistake, until there is an unlimited supply of health care, it will be rationed.

If you aren't rich, you're one paycheck or layoff away from disaster. It's not possible to save any money. You can barely get by.

Somehow, after leaving active duty with $350 in my pocket, I managed never to need government assistance, even though I live in California. I had to work 70 hours a week at two jobs, but somehow, I managed to do it.

We are at war. We will win. Our military: great or what? Strong. Courageous.

And, so what will we do to win? Ask the help of France? Good luck. How about some specifics? You can say we'll hunt down terrorists. How? Where? Where are the enemies, and how will we go after them? What will we do if our allies chicken out?

It's not enough to say "I'm gonna do it!" You gotta tell me how.

You say we'll increase the military budget. Ok, and what will we spend it on? It's not enough to throw money at it. You say we'll hire more troops. Fine, where will we send them? Increase our troops in Iraq? Increase our nuclear arsenal. Build another carrier group? What about all those boys in Germany, will we still keep mthem there, or are there oher, more important things for them to do?

Those aren't specifics. Those are platitudes.

John Kerry knows all about military stuff. He served in Vietnam.

Really? I hadn't heard.

We don't get no respect from the rest of the world.

Oh. Well. that's more important than ensuring the country is secure. Better not do anything that gets the frogs PO'd. That is, after all, the important thing.

Hope is on the way. If you don't make enough money. If you can't go to school. If your kid is stuck in Iraq. If your medicine costs too much. Hope is on the way.

Hope, presumably, will be issued by Kerry/Edwards. Huh. And how's that gonna work? Will you just issue money? Force employers to may more? Withdraw all troops from Iraq?

And while we're on the subject, do any of these hopeless people have any responsibility for self-improvement? So far, it's all what goodies Kerry/Edwards are going to shower on us.

Too bad that government doesn't create wealth. And since it doesn't, whose gonna pay for all this hope?

Oh, right, tax increases on the "richest Americans". The top 10% already pay 67% of all income tax revenues. Clearly, not doing their share.

So, really, it's the same old Democratic stuff. Tax the rich. Spend more money. Free stuff for everybody. well, except for the rich,

Chris Matthews: Nothing about raising taxes. I guess he missed the part about tax increases on the "richest Americans".

Jon Meacham from Newsweek: No platitude was left behind. Not a policy-heavy speech. Optimistic, though, so 4.5 out of 5 stars.

In other words, it's all sizzle and no steak, but Meacham thought it was great. So did the Dems. But it was almost entirely empty of substance.

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