tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post1056847228268206708..comments2024-03-28T18:53:48.204-04:00Comments on the daily howler: THE SHORTHAND AND THE POWER: Everything seems to fit!<b>bob somerby</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/02963464534685954436noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-83505745388392911542012-01-23T14:42:56.289-05:002012-01-23T14:42:56.289-05:00Quoting out of context "I like being able to ...Quoting out of context "I like being able to fire people" is, of course, quite wrong. It does show the depths to which our political conversation has sunk that the people who quote this aren't shooed off the stage.<br /><br /><br /><br />What is also weird is that in context the statement is already quite damning.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Romney describes a utopian reality where your average American can a) pick and choose any-old medical insurer, b) at any time, and c) "fire" the current one when dissatisfied?<br /><br /><br /><br />It only because of the health care act that you will have a functioning consumer-oriented insurance market (these are the "exchanges"). And it is only because of the same law that you will be able to switch and bring your pre-existing conditions with you.<br /><br /><br /><br />A functioning punditocracy would be pointing out that Romney had made the case for the Republican-reviled "Obamacare," by appealing to Republican ideals with Republican language. <br /><br /><br /><br />And that would have the additional benefit of bringing the conversation away from har-haring at alleged gaffes, and back to policy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com