You guys catch Hildabeast's econ. speech today?

[Rick Lee]

I saw some of this on CNN, but just read this a few min. ago. Unreal. How can anyone believe a single word this commie says? How can anyone think businesses won't pass along to consumers the costs of increased gov't. regulation?

Clinton pits herself against business
By: Mike Allen
February 14, 2008 04:01 PM EST

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) trashed an array of corporate interests in an economic speech in Ohio Thursday, vowing that as president she would go after oil, credit-card, insurance, pharmaceutical, investment and loan firms.

Delivering a major economic address ahead of the Buckeye State’s crucial March 4 primary, Clinton also slammed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as a lightweight, declaring: “My opponent gives speeches, I offer solutions.”

“My opponent says that he’ll take on the special interests,” she said in her prepared remarks. “Well, he told people he stood up to the nuclear industry and passed a bill against them. But he actually let the nuclear industry water down his bill — the bill never actually passed.”

Clinton has put a new emphasis on populism as she attempts to recover from a string of eight consecutive losses to Obama, and she continues to court the endorsement of former opponent John Edwards.

Earlier in the race, Clinton defended her relationships with business lobbyists, telling a blogger convention this summer that many of them “represent real Americans.”

But she took a very different stance today as she delivered as she delivered a “Solutions for the American Economy” address to General Motors employees in Warren, Ohio.

“Today, I’m announcing an agenda to reign in the special interests and save the American people at least $55 billion a year,” Clinton said. “Money that can go back into your pockets. Money we can use to create new jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, make college affordable and so much more.”

In another swipe at Obama, she said: “In the end, it comes down to just one question: When the bright lights are off and the speeches are over, who can you count on to listen to you, to stand up for you, to deliver solutions for you?”

Clinton also said she measures her life “not by applause or headlines — but by whether I’m helping people.”

Here’s what Clinton said about each of the industries she vowed to rein in:

— “We’ll take on the oil companies and harness their record profits to create millions of clean energy jobs — high-wage jobs you can raise a family on. I’ll end their special tax breaks and give them a choice: invest some of your profits in alternative energy, or we’ll do it for you. People have been paying through the roof at the pump, and it’s time the companies paid their fair share.”

— “We’ll take on the credit card companies so that you and your families aren’t drowning in debt. Here in Ohio, payday lenders are actually taking Social Security checks from our elderly. That’s outrageous. I’ve proposed real consumer protections against abusive interest rates — capping them at no more than 30 percent and working to get them far lower. And I’ll ban those hidden fees and sudden rate hikes, because credit card companies shouldn’t be able to bait and switch you and your family.”

— “We’ll take on the insurance companies and tell them they can no longer discriminate against the sickest people who need care the most. They spend more than $50 billion a year trying to figure out how not to cover people. Well, I’m going to save them a fortune and a whole lot of time, because here’s the new policy: No more discrimination period. So even if you have a pre-existing condition, you can get the health insurance you need — no questions asked.”

— “And I’ll go after drug companies and insurance companies that are overcharging consumers and the government — it’s time to end their profiteering at our expense.

— “We’ll take on Wall Street and tell them: you’re going to finally pay your fair share in taxes. Because it’s outrageous that a teacher making $50,000 pays a higher tax rate than some Wall Street investment managers making $50 million. And I’ll create a bipartisan Corporate Waste Commission to review all those corporate subsidies — and propose a comprehensive way to end them. We can save billions of dollars a year and put it to work for you.

— “We’ll take on the student loan companies and tell them no more ripping off our sons and daughters. I’m proposing a Student Borrower Bill of Rights — no more deceptive advertising and outrageous fees. And we’ll end the inefficient subsidies for private student loan companies. Because we should be making it easier for our kids to go to college — not harder.”

[PatrickB]

Looks like Hillbillaries plan is the next best thing to communism...

[Flatbutt1]

OMG that rhetoric is so full of the usual pandering that she loses the right to accuse anyone else of catering to the special interests.

"Profiteering at the expense of consumers"? WTF? What business doesn't profit at the expense of the consumer?

Lobbyists represent real Americans? puhleeze!

She's going to go after the oil companies? Riiiight.

And she's says 30% is an acceptable cap on credit cards.

Well at least she's telling us what she's going to do

[PatrickB]

That is kind of funny... Her accusing others of catering to special interests?

[hytem]

And there's a high fly ball way out to right field, and it's going, going gone!!

[URY914]

I always like hearing about "oil company profits". Who does she/they think those profits go to? Shareholders, which are union pension plans, company employees, etc...

You would think profits are a bad thing.

[Seric]

I found out where this speech was being kept, in the closet reserved for the Thomas Jefferson desk and the White House phones.

C*NT.

[Seahawk]

And not a word about Tort Reform. Our Tort system is a joke. We are owned by lawyers.

[gprsh924]

This country is going to hell in a handbasket

If I hated Hilary before, it is unfathomable how much I detest her now

[Burnin' oil]

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Flatbutt1

OMG that rhetoric is so full of the usual pandering that she loses the right to accuse anyone else of catering to the special interests.

"Profiteering at the expense of consumers"? WTF? What business doesn't profit at the expense of the consumer?

Profiteering: making EXCESSIVE profits on items in short supply

[widgeon13]

She'll say whatever she needs to in order to win, unfortunately, her supporters are gullible enough to believe her.

Happy Valentine's Day Hillary, go **** yourself!

[Rearden]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Profiteering: making EXCESSIVE profits on items in short supply

Who determines "excessive"?

If your Committee determines that ExxonMobil's 9-10% profit margin is "excessive", then they will have a lot of plundering to do.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Rearden

Who determines "excessive"?

If your Committee determines that ExxonMobil's 9-10% profit margin is "excessive", then they will have a lot of plundering to do.

Aye...there's the rub. While I am a free marketeer, it does make me a little queazy when their net profits are up 75% and gross revenues are only up 32%. Something just don't quite pass the smell test.

Economies of scale maybe? Yeah, right.

[Rearden]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Aye...there's the rub. While I am a free marketeer, it does make me a little queazy when their net profits are up 75% and gross revenues are only up 32%. Something just don't quite pass the smell test.

Economies of scale maybe? Yeah, right.

You are still talking about Q3 2005? If those figures you cite are true, ExxonMobile's results in that previous financial period were horrible.

[Flatbutt1]

The oil companies have what I "want" so I have to pay their price. I survive by cutting back,economizing.

The pharma companies have what I "need" so I have to pay their price as well. I survive by cutting back and economizing even more.

Profiteering you say? OK maybe but my point is that Hillary has no right to throw such stones.

[PatrickB]

Originally Posted by Flatbutt1

my point is that Hillary has no right to throw such stones.

+1!

Tell the people big enough lies, often enough... And they will believe!
Where did I first hear that?

[Dantilla]

Washington State's former insurance commissioner, Debra Senn, had similar requirements for health insurance companies.

The result?

Several companies no longer do business in Washington State. Pulled out completely, because it was impossible to remain profitable. People with no insurance would apply when they needed to see a doctor, then cancel their new policy after their appointment/treatment.

There are more uninsured people today, and fewer choices for those still insured. While having nothing but good intentions, the requirements were not thought through. A miserable failure.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Flatbutt1

The oil companies have what I "want" so I have to pay their price. I survive by cutting back,economizing.

The pharma companies have what I "need" so I have to pay their price as well. I survive by cutting back and economizing even more.

Profiteering you say? OK maybe but my point is that Hillary has no right to throw such stones.

Oh, I agree. And to get away from Clinton, your pharmacy example is apropros. Explain to me why a brand name drug I used to take cost me $165/month since I paid cash out of my HSA. However, if I had an insurance card for meds, my insurance company would only pay about $70 or so. Guess their money is worth more than mine.

But it gets better. The same name brand drug is available from the same company in Canada for about $75 a month. Hmmmmm.

It gets even better. There is a generic equivqlent in Canada for about $45 a month. However in the good ol' US of A the generic won't be available for another 8 years or so. Guess why? Because our government has banned the generic here at the behest of pharmaceutical company. To recoup their R&D costs, I suppose.

And Bush and Clinton, and republicans and democrats keep taking money from pharmaceutical companies.

What a country.....

[Flatbutt1]

The reduced payment the insurance company makes on the meds might be due to the same process by which ER visits cost less for the insurance company versus what an uninsured person pays. IE the volume discount?

As for Canada I know, well at least I'm fairly sure that the Canadian government negotiates drug prices.

And I doubt that either party or any candidate has the answer to these questions.