Disqus - Latest Comments for JoMa

Re: Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray

JoMa — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:55:15 -0000

If Denish wants to win, she needs to seriously pay attention to the middle - the independent minded voters.

She has the time to seriously push for meaningful ethics reform, real education reform (yes - challenge the unions), and declare that the wild spending party is over. NJ and VA are precursors of how angry voters are.

Same with Heinrich. His answer to my question about why the Dems want to end the Medicare Advantage plans when those plans provide for more than just Medicare (wellness programs, a focus on prevention, etc.) was a typically snarky liberal answer that not only lost my vote next time around, but will cause me to support any viable opponent.

If the Dems want to continue to ride the "We're for the little people" myth, they need to prove it.

Re: Weekly Alibi names new editor

JoMa — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:05:24 -0000

Ms. Doland;

You are also a genius!

Re: Dems vs. Insurance Industry, Round II

JoMa — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:47:42 -0000

Seems to me this 1945 law, enacted under a Democratic President (H. S. Truman) could have been repealed anytime during the ensuing 70 years. Why is this now being cited as a big deal? Are they grabbing at straws?

Re: Dems vs. Insurance Industry, Round II

JoMa — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:41:10 -0000

Better yet, tax the lawmakers who receive the - ah - "contributions" at 90%. Its time these sleaze-bags represent the people, not the special interests.

Re: http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=39187

JoMa — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:54:37 -0000

"stupid to allow fugitives to use the USA as a hiding place."

Agreed. Its stupid.

Its even more stupid to give ILLEGAL immigrants the idea that they can commit any crime they choose here and either "the community" will protect them or our inability to find and identify them will.

Re: Shame is dead

JoMa — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:39:20 -0000

Many many years ago. when I was in the Army, I tried a line similar to this on a girl I was dating while home on leave.

Didn't work then either.

Re: Albuquerque: You Have a New Mayor

JoMa — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:16:53 -0000

Frankly, I'm glad Berry won. One party has ruled this state for so long that they have become complacent; certain that they will be continually re-elected, no matter how bad the corruption, and patronage is.

The Dems can blame Romero, but it really didn't matter at the end of the day. Maybe a few more wins like this and those arrogant blowhards in Santa Fe will finally get serious about ethics, DWI, capping rampant spending just to win votes among certain special interest groups and a host of other practices that have kept us near the bottom as a State for so long.

I hope Berry does well as Mayor.

Re: SunCal targets Cadigan in election mailer

JoMa — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:29:30 -0000

Somehow, this strikes me as wrong. Its one thing to make a legal donation to a PAC running someone against Cadigan, but this is something else.

Re: NM’s rising unemployment could bring new stimulus money

JoMa — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:24:41 -0000

Tax the rich . . . Oh, wait

http://bit.ly/UTeUQ

Re: Medical marijuana program will need revision if shortage goes on, advocates say

JoMa — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:49:44 -0000

So if the need for this stuff for qualifying patients is real, why not use some of the hundreds of pounds of the stuff confiscated from illegal traffickers in the state each year? They already sell seized property don't they?

Re: Why can’t the Dems get their act together on health care reform?

JoMa — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:09:27 -0000

Deborah,

Sorry for your loss. My mother was 89 when she died in a nursing home nearby and I'm certain that she was reasonably well treated because we could stop in unannounced one or two times a day to check things out.

Keep in mind that you can, and are, suing SUN. You can't sue the Government. That still bothers me regarding the "Public Option" idea.

Re: Why can’t the Dems get their act together on health care reform?

JoMa — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:56:19 -0000

Well, Arthur, we are most of the problem.

Poll after poll, over many years shows the public disdain for "congress", yet we keep voting in our guy or gal as long as they keep bringing home "improvements" (i.e. pork). Attempts at term limits and finance reform have failed, mostly because we expect the foxes to be nice to the chickens.

When you think about it, only a great epiphany within the electorate might cause us to limit the number of years these folks can serve, regardless of how good we perceive them to be. I don't believe that the people who built our system ever imagined lifetime career politicians who yield more and more power the longer they serve and become more and more the targets of lobbying interests with piles of cash.

The sagging economy and the promise of health insurance reform have a few people riled up, but, alas, we live in the moment and will settle for some scrap that falls from the political feast and then go back to celebrity worship or whatever else it is that occupies our time.

Want more proof? Look at how we measure the progress of our freshman representatives. Its not what bills they co-sponsored or wrote, its how much cash they've already raised for the next election fight.

And 'round and 'round it goes.

Re: Teague, Bingaman land on The Hill’s “Rich List”

JoMa — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:33:47 -0000

Not to worry. They are all looking out for us "little people".

Re: In the battle against violent crime, we all need to be dot connectors

JoMa — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:30:33 -0000

We've heard more and more of these stories about 9-1-1 operators that seem to show little concern. Local governments have been sued big time because these folks failed to do their job.

On the other hand, imagine what it must be like to get several bogus or overactive calls every day. What about the nut jobs that call 9-1-1 because the fast food place didn't give enough onions or whatever.

I think 3-1-1 and 242-COPS are good ideas. If you weren't 100% sure that what you were seeing on Montgomery was a true "emergency" that could be an option. I have those numbers on my contact list in the cell and have used them.

In reality, maybe you did and maybe you didn't stop a violent act by calling 242-COPS, but you'll at least feel that you've done something.

But your point that WE have to connect the dots regarding suspicious activity is right on. Cops can't be everywhere, nor would we want them to be.

Re: Why don’t moderate N.M. Republicans speak out?

JoMa — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:21:02 -0000

Arthur,

Had you asked the question posed by your headline in a really open way, you might actually get a few moderates tp debate with you.

But no. Your article, dripping with sarcasm, only restates tired old "facts" that attempt to prove your point that anyone that hangs a (R) after their name, no matter how well intentioned they might otherwise be, are anti-everything and unwilling to help solve problems.

Even Ted Kennedy, the "Liberal Lion" understood that working with Republicans might, just might, result in some constructive ideas, and if nothing else, would provide political cover if legislation passes and then doesn't live up to all the hype. I happened to note that the hated George Bush was at his funeral. Most liberals don't want to remember that Kennedy and Bush worked together to get the "No Child Left Behind" act passed and even Obama plans to continue it and improve it - much to the disdain of the Moveon Crowd and the teachers unions who just want to be left alone while they destroy the competitiveness of the U.S. in the world.

You lefties have what you wanted - total power and control. Why should it matter to you that "moderate Republicans" don't speak out? Why should they endure the sneering and demeaning hate evident in your article?

You guys can take ALL the credit for what is happening to the State and the National economy.

Re: ABQNews: Health Care Q&A

JoMa — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:59:04 -0000

One of your earlier questions addressed Medicare and Medicare Advantage. My wife and I pay for Medicare Advantage plans operated by Presbyterian Health Services. I understand that Presbyterian is a not-for-profit organization. If HR3200 seeks to ban or phase out Medicare Advantage plans what would they be replaced with? Should I anticipate searching around for Medicare Supplemental plan or just wait to see what happens with all of this.

Incidentally, the seniors I speak with are frightened that Medicare will be "messed with" and spill over these concerns with loud opposition to any Single -Payer or "Government Option" plan. They point out that once the Government is "in charge", it can change anything at will and at any time - just as it wants to do with Medicare.

If some of the changes being proposed are "beneficial" to seniors, the Administration is certainly not selling that aspect. I think I heard one discussion on a news panel talking about "filling the donut hole" in the drug prescription plan.

Re: New Mexico Medicaid cuts may be ‘much more drastic’

JoMa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:17:35 -0000

Barbwire says "raise taxes". Simple, right?

Re: In Memory

JoMa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:48:54 -0000

John,

I read your column in the Journal this morning. While the story of "Ginny" is indeed sad and, of course, personal, I put the paper down with more questions than answers. Why didn't she qualify for Medicaid? Was she a smoker? Did she have an advocate to fight for her care? Not trying to blame the victim at all, just trying to understand.

I would submit that it isn't lack of health care insurance, but lack of health care itself that is the issue.

I can never understand why "free" clinics are not established for indigent people to provide care and off-load the emergency rooms and trauma centers. Does Bernalillo County yet have a facility to care for down and out people who are insistent on killing themselves with drugs and alcohol, or are well still sending a Fire Truck, County Ambulance, ALS ambulance, with crews, and transporting to the emergency rooms at huge expense? Seriously - did we ever fix that problem?

Even if universal health insurance was passed, we don't currently have the resources for universal health care except, as you point out, in dire emergencies. Why aren't we working on that to show, as a pilot program, that we can care for more people at lower cost to the taxpayer than we do now.

As a memorial to "Ginny" find out where such clinics work in the U.S. and write stories to embarrass and encourage us to do the same. Start by asking why "urgent care" centers are closed at 7PM, and go from there.

Re: New Mexico Medicaid cuts may be ‘much more drastic’

JoMa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:09:38 -0000

The elements of this story are now a few days old. Local TV news mentioned it a few days ago as did the Albuquerque Journal. Yours is the first mention of it in any depth here. Thank you for that.

Sadly, the story says that New Mexico doesn't have enough money and will have to “Eliminate Whole Programs That Have High Costs;” and “Eliminate All But Mandatory Services for Mandatory Populations.”

There is nothing "mobbish", "teabaggish" or "racist" about this, yet most so-called progressives snidely brush off ordinary people who have showed genuine concern about this very thing in the larger Federal healthcare town halls.

I want to hear what our Government - our state Government will do about this funding problem. Let's see what innovation we can come up with to save money while not lowering services to beneficiaries. After all, this is what Obama says will happen with Medicare - we'll pull $500 billion out over the next 10 years, yet the care provided to seniors will not deteriorate.

Show us how its done, New Mexico!

Re: Some deal hunters stung in ‘clunkers’ program

JoMa — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:46:56 -0000

For the life of me I will never understand why people trust government programs.

Re: Corruption involving Democrats once again in the spotlight

JoMa — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:38:43 -0000

Well gee, I guess we are to remain a one-party state then. Corruption will be the order of the day because anyone elected as a Democrat will never be seriously opposed by those racist, name-calling, religious wacko dittoheads who are anti-everything and do nothing but call people names.

Oh wait, I forgot, YOU are the one doing the name calling.

Re: On a positive note, Quigley shines as health care reform scribe

JoMa — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:31:34 -0000

Wow. "Fair and Balanced". I'll be danged.

Re: Vigil-Giron indictment alleges embezzlement and money laundering scheme

JoMa — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:51:21 -0000

Well she's either a Republicrat or a Demlican

They are all rotten and self-serving, but not to worry, they will do a great job running a government health care program.

Re: Health care debate should be about facts, not what makes the best headlines

JoMa — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:33:50 -0000

Matthew, Congress does not listen to us. Rep. Heinrich won't even acknowledge receipt of my email regarding proposed cuts in Medicare. I suppose that if I had promised a large campaign donation his staff would be all over it.

Too bad these congresscritters feel rebuffed. That's why we hired them - live with it.

Here's a "fact" they can't ignore:

http://bit.ly/zBJuK

Re: Taking a scalpel to the American health care system

JoMa — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:14:44 -0000

Not that they are my favorite people, but I've heard plaintiff's lawyers describe themselves as "venture capitalists". That is, if you have a case with good legal facts on your side, a big law firm will front the money. You don't pay unless they win. Its called "contingency". You know that, but you just want to try making unending points in your hapless arguments.

As to "free markets" being a farce, try telling that to China, India, and Russia. Even Cuba is experimenting with letting farmers own their own land and profit from it.

Oh and by the way, my doctor doesn't support single payer at all. He agrees that we need to fix the system and fast, but not destroy it.