The circle of pro-life

Mitt Romney's campaign just keeps giving.  The whole fiasco with Todd Akin just becomes a little more amusing when you realize that Gov. Romney, who was trying to get Akin to withdraw from the race earlier today, was also supported by and had acting as a surrogate a Dr. Jack C. Willke back in his 2008 campaign.  From the linked LA Times article:

A physician and former president of the National Right to Life Committee, Willke was an “important surrogate” for Romney’s 2008 presidential bid. Willke is the oft-cited source of the theory that rape-related pregnancies are “rare.” The theory is sometimes used by antiabortion advocates to argue that abortion laws should not contain exceptions for pregnancies that result from rape or incest.

But wait, there's more!  The National Right to Life Committee?  That sounds familiar.  Oh, it's the same one that Paul Ryan has a perfect rating from in his years representing Wisconsin.  He's never voted against them.  Between that and the Ryan-Akin Anti-Abortion Bill, well, this is all coming full circle quite quickly.  Especially since the National Right to Life Committee just endorsed Gov. Romney April 12, 2012. 

Update: Kirk Cameron has now weighed in.

Hospital Corporation of America, or HCA, or DOA

So, the NY Times has run some pieces about HCA lately.  They're kind of hit pieces, and some of the Republican blogs and papers have been jumping on it.  HCA is also known as Hospital Corporation of America.  This wouldn't be an issue if Bain Capital didn't own 40% of them.  You know, that company that Mitt Romney founded?  If Rick Scott hadn't been the CEO at one point it would also be slightly less interesting.

So, anyway, the NY Times ran this piece.  Some highlights:

HCA’s emergence as a powerful leader in the hospital industry is all the more remarkable because only a decade ago the company was badly shaken by a wide-ranging Medicare fraud investigation that it eventually settled for more than $1.7 billion. 

Why fix Medicare if you can bill for it right now?

In late 2008, for instance, HCA changed the billing codes it assigned to sick and injured patients who came into the emergency rooms. Almost overnight, the numbers of patients who HCA said needed more care, which would be paid for at significantly higher levels by Medicare, surged. 

Again, why screw up what works?  Maybe vouchers might be a way to pay for this while saving HCA some money, but the current formula seems like something not worth screwing up.

HCA decided not to treat patients who came in with nonurgent conditions, like a cold or the flu or even a sprained wrist, unless those patients paid in advance.

This falls in line with what we know about Romney.  Obviously it's a great cost cutting move.  He's a business genius or something for his dealings with Marriott.  After that, why would anyone doubt the man?

I mean, at least HCA didn't perform unnecessary surgery on...  Oh, crap.  They really did?  Well...

Why is it corporations can't end up in jail for committing crimes like unneeded surgeries for Medicare dollars?  I thought they were people?  If Bain owns you, you get out of jail free, even if you're kind of getting into the creepy area of cutting people up to make a few extra cents per share.

Oops she did it again

So, I saw a story this week on a website called Fark, and it was another typical Florida story.  Then I used the Googles.  This is kind of interesting.

Fark Link

Okay, so what does it mean.  Well:

"My daughter will choke me," says Debbie Piscitella, 41, mother of 9-year-old McKenna and 6-year-old Sebastian. "If I lose, I'm done. I might as well not even go home."

Wait, Debbie Piscitella?  That's familiar.  Like Fark recently found her again.

Oh, wait.  They did.  Oh, and her daughter MacKenna may have been involved.  The Florida tag proves its staying power again.

Memorial Day

This TV (2.2 in Portland) is running Final Approach.  Sci-Fi, but close to a war movie.  They're kind-of running something like Memorial Day.  Antenna TV (32.2) seems to be trying as well.  Otherwise, you have cable.


TC Guide Channel has something.  Charlie Wilsons War, and all you have to do is put up with the scrolling TV listings.  AMC also has some options, but History Channel?  Pawn Stars.

Car Crash on Holgate

Nice work Portland Police on handling this one.  It's only the second in a week, but I guess that's what happens when you live on a major Boulevard in Portland.

Mostly I'm just glad everyone (except the telephone pole) was okay.