Contra Gateway Pundit (and Hot Air), I am not certain that Senator Bernie Sanders (Socialist-VT) actually meant to imply that the Democrats were going to destroy private health insurers. Given that he is in fact a socialist, it may be that being one has finally killed enough brain cells to make him not notice that he answered the question so poorly.

[Update: I'm reminded that video isn't universally accessible. Transcript, also via Gateway Pundit:]

FOX News analyst: But they’re afraid. Private insurance companies are afraid that they will be put out of business. So why shouldn’t they fight it?

Sen. Sanders: They should be afraid. Let me tell you they should be afraid. I think when they deny people health care because somebody has breast cancer a few years ago, when they throw people off of health insurance because people were sick and ran up a health care bill they have a right to be exposed, a right to be afraid.

Look, it’s not my fault that intellectually speaking being a self-identified socialist in this day and age is much like being a self-identified Flat-Earther*. It just is.  And it makes you do dumb things, like tell private insurance companies that the United States Senate is coming after them with a mad gleam in its eye.  Given that, true or not, this is precisely the impression that current Senate leadership does not want to create… well.  To use the terminology of the guy that the Senator spent the last eight years ineffectually fighting: heckuva job there, Bernie.

Moe Lane

PS: More seriously, please remember: no matter what happens with the health care plan, neither Senator Sanders, his family, nor his close associates will ever suffer from the more onerous aspects of it. Because while all animals are equal, some animals are more equal than others.

*Well, except for the former’s higher historical body count.

Crossposted to Moe Lane.

From the diaries by Erick

I recently posted an article introducing Chris Roy for VT Sect. of State in which he described his political philosophy. In today’s article Chris was kind enough to share his thoughts on a couple of the issues facing Vermont, elections oversight and the economy.

With ACORN’s recent electoral notoriety, the criminal indictments which have followed and the probability that ACORN will be running the census, election oversight is and will be a matter of considerable import. As well, the teetering economy is on the forefront of many American’s minds. For Vermont the Sect. of State can have a considerable impact on both.

The Vermont Secretary of State is responsible for a variety of functions geared toward advancing the cause of good and transparent government. These responsibilities range from overseeing campaigns and elections, to regulating 44 different professions, to working with Vermont’s local governments to ensure compliance with the law. They also include oversight of the business registration process, maintenance of public archives, and advocacy on behalf of Vermont’s open government laws.

From elections to business registrations

Read More →

[N.b. - I RedHotted this earlier, but it deserves more than that. - Sk.]

This is made of awesome:

If this budget becomes law over my veto, I am prepared to accept that outcome. But understand that what you reap is what you sow; the adverse effects of your tax and spending choices will ripple through the Vermont economy for years to come and those consequences will be your sole responsibility.

(Emphasis mine.)

(Gov. Jim Douglas (R-VT); conclusion to a letter sent to Democratic legislative leaders regarding his veto of a state budget that increases spending by another 5+% and raises taxes.)

Ah. Finally. There’s a line that deserves widespread weapon-like use.

(p.s. - Tags below chosen with intent; it’s been far too long since “Sanity” and “Vermont” have appeared in the same place. )

It doesn’t have a direct link, but it’s down below in here:

“Most of the legislature is elected by a collection of enviro-twits, trust-funders, crybabies, welfare garbage and nudists.”

Heh.

Open thread for today….