Thursday, August 06, 2009

Smells Like Journalism Spirit!

Please sir, may I have some more of this? Preferably much more.

CNN Anchor Rips Into Health Care CEO Who's Funding Anti-Reform Effort

A CNN anchor today tore down Rick Scott, the founder of an organization that's been funding anti-health care reform protests and the former CEO of a hospital company that, as Sanchez pointed out, paid $1.7 billion to settle charges of overcharging Medicare and Medicaid.

It was brutal.

Sanchez started simply, asking Scott, the founder of Conservatives for Patients' Rights, if he takes credit for the recent disruptions at health care reform events. Scott responded, "It'd be nice too, right?" before saying he thought everyone should go to meetings, but "oughta be nicer about it."

Then Sanchez started in on him, describing the charges and fines against Scott's company, the Columbia Hospital Corporation.

"Some would argue, and it would be hard to say they're wrong, that you would be the poster child for everything that's wrong with the greed that has hurt our current health care system," Sanchez said.

Scott tried to defend himself, saying other companies were fined in the big health care fraud scandals of the 1990s. Sanchez stopped him.

"How much more wrong can you be than what you just said? Not only is your company screwed up, and you just admitted to it, but you said look at all the other companies, they did the same thing," Sanchez said. "It doesn't sound like a sterling system we have here, does it?"

And when Scott tried to shirk responsibility for the fines, saying they were leveled after he left the company, Sanchez put his foot down.

"No, no, no, no! You're playing with the facts, sir!" he said.

"Some people are gonna look at your record ... and say, 'This is the guy leading this charge? Is he the one we should be listening to?' Not exactly a perfect past when it comes to what's right for taxpayers and patients," Sanchez said.

"Absolutely," Scott said.

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Wednesday, August 05, 2009

What's Over That Rainbow?

This was likely an unprecedented lapse in posting, namely over a month. Mark it up, partly at least, to the intensity of gardening and yardwork, due to more planting than in recent years and attempts to combat unfamiliar heat and drought.


And, oh yes, there was that nearly two weeks of on-the-road-again. Me and the missus are just back from a driving expedition that traversed Oregon twice, apogeed in Little River on the coast just south of Mendocino, and somehow managed to emulsify the off-the-beaten-path aspects I favor and the malls, shopping, and civilization so dear to others. You have to keep stirring (with vigor!) to keep the Vacation Vinagrette in proper form, but, in principle, it can be done.

I have designs on a trip post or two, but have learned that the more expansive they are the less likely they are to come to fruition. I'm thinking I have a still-unfinished post on last year's vacation, partly overlapping this year's adventures. I recall crafting a map as well as starting account of the trip but doubt it got to full draft category.

So this is one alternative. Terse version, with a few pictures, and possibility that something more elaborate may evolve later. We did drive a fair amount of interstate highway, with regrets. But that is the price to pay for aiming to get far from home with a limited calendar. We swung through Salem, cajoled Sean and Mara to the coast for a day on the sand and gourmet dinner, then headed south for redwoods and more beaches while they regrettably headed back to the grindstone. Trees at least lived up to their reputation, beaches and views of same largely occluded by fog pulled in by scorching inland conditions. Of seven or so nights on the coast, probably at most three involved truly starry skies. I do have some pics of beach-vistas, but blue skies and properly warm summer temps were rare.

We made our way home via a combination of obscure and multi-lane, angling against the grain in search of clear skies northeast across northern Cal and up the east side of the Cascades to eventually meet up again with Mara and Sean last Sunday. We even found some gravel road.



Eric had the tough job, dealing with three dogs, all-time record heat here (103F on July 29), and more yard and garden to tend than any one person should be faced with. He was seemingly unflappable. In our absence we passed from pea to bean season (there had been overlap just before departure). We have a bumper blueberry crop as well. And the tomatoes are starting to get serious about ripening.