NPR-Strickland Blackwell live debate

[slaveplanet]

At least I think it was live, right now on Cleveland NPR

Blackwell: Mr Strickland, I knew Roy Rogers and you are no Roy Rogers
(crickets chirp) and as for Duck Run, I am not the one Ducking and running.



Strickland: Mr. Blackwell, I also knew Roy Rogers, and I also knew Ronald Reagan , Mr. Blackwell, you are no Ronald Reagan (lots of polite snickering)

[slaveplanet]

1. There was also an exchange about

Blackwell's "health care Tax". Strickland was responding too Blackwell's charge that he would be a Taxer, Strickland fired back about Blackwell's hidden taxes, said if it passes it could add $480 a month to some familys' budgets. Families that are already strapped.



Does anyone know more about this "Health Care Tax"?

[OhioBlue]

2. I'm not real up to date on it..

but I think the gist might be that Blackwell's answer to helping Ohioans that CANNOT afford health insurance to MANDATE that they buy insurance in an attempt to lower it for all.... it really makes no sense. If you cannot afford a $400-$800 a month policy, how does it help you to mandate that you purchase it like car insurance? I mean, if you can't afford car insurance, you can try to car pool, have one car per family or use public transportation in some areas. what kind of options do you have if you cannot afford health insurance? It is crazy.

[Schmajo]

5. However, that's part of the Massachusetts plan

The much-touted, bi-partisan MA plan, that begins implementation next year (I think), mandates coverage, which will be accomplished by: requiring employers to provide health care coverage (or pay a tax penalty, which probably is too low); offering "affordable" insurance via state-negotiated coverage (or something like that); and by the state providing coverage to the poor.

Obviously, I am not an expert in the details, but I know MA's implementation is going to be watched closely by other states.

[OhioBlue]

6. well some points of this sound sensible

such as pooling for state negotiated coverage at a lower cost. It will be interesting to watch what happens in MA - however, call me cynical, but I doubt the Blackwell plan has any bi-partisan input and probably is not comprehensive at all and will just put more hardships on those that are already struggling. My Dad and brother are both self-employed. They cannot afford health insurance for themselves nor their wives right now. To simply mandate coverage would mean that they would lose their homes.

[geiger]

3. What was this? A kindergarten debate?

Ridiculous

[slaveplanet]

4. yep, especially Blackwell

he came off like he had just dusted off some transcrpts of his middle school debates.

I only caught about 15 minutes of it while driving to the store, It was truly pathetic.

We're in big trouble if Diebold elects this guy

BTW ...PBS is replaying the televised version it right now on channel 25. 11pm EST

wcpo.com also has an on demand replay

[NEOBuckeye]

7. Blackwell has no chance

Strickland is so far ahead right now (17% or better) that a Blackwell win would loudly scream FRAUD. Ohioans simply won't accept it.