Israel's Health Care System has Obamacare Individual Mandate

Does Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney know that? During Romney's trip to Israel, he spoke favorably in a speech about how health care makes up a much smaller amount of Israel’s gross domestic product compared to the United States:

“Do you realize what health care spending is as a percentage of the G.D.P. in Israel? Eight percent,” he said. “You spend eight percent of G.D.P. on health care. You’re a pretty healthy nation. We spend 18 percent of our G.D.P. on health care, 10 percentage points more. That gap, that 10 percent cost, compare that with the size of our military — our military which is 4 percent, 4 percent. Our gap with Israel is 10 points of G.D.P. We have to find ways — not just to provide health care to more people, but to find ways to fund and manage our health care costs.”

What exactly is Romney endorsing about Israel's Health Care System? Certainly that its effective in terms of the costs, but he didn't address what policy that Israel's doing that the U.S. should turn to.

Israel's health care system and the Affordable Care Act "Obamacare" are similar but not identical since Israel goes much farther in terms of government involvement. The Washington Post's Sarah Kliff breaks it down best:

How it has gotten there, however, may not be to the Republican candidate’s liking: Israel regulates its health care system aggressively, requiring all residents to carry insurance and capping revenue for various parts of the country’s health care system.

Israel created a national health care system in 1995, largely funded through payroll and general tax revenue. The government provides all citizens with health insurance: They get to pick from one of four competing, nonprofit plans. Those insurance plans have to accept all customers—including people with pre-existing conditions—and provide residents with a broad set of government-mandated benefits.

Health insurance does not, however, cover every medical service. Dental and vision care, for example, fall outside of the standard government set of benefits. The majority of Israelis—81 percent —purchase a supplemental health insurance plan to “use the private health care system for services that may not be available in through the public system,” according to a paper by Health Affairs. [Washington Post 7/30/12]

Just imagine how awkward it would be if he praised Canada's health care system because they spend less than the U.S. as a % of GDP= 11.3%. Because Canada's health care system is such punching bag for the right, no Republican praises anything about the system. This is probably news to the right, Americans in general, and it was to me because Israel's health care system hadn't been talked about when health care reform was being crafted early in President Obama's first term. Its not a politically smart move for a Republican to make the health care reform debate be about spending less of our GDP on health care. That's because the U.S. does the worst compared to other countries that have more government involvement yet spend less. Republicans say they believe in less government involvement. Just call them the "Do Nothings".

Romney's Goldwater Problem with Donald Trump

Unless Mitt Romney issues a direct repudiation of Donald Trump and his doubling down of birtherism, it could hurt him politically. Could it be the 1964 Lyndon Johnson vs Barry Goldwater election in which Johnson won 90% of the vote? I'd say no regarding that big a margin of defeat. The reason I'm bring up the 1964 election is because there was a political decision during that election that the Republican Party and conservative leadership had to make. Today we have birthers. More than 45 years ago it was the it was the communist conspiracy promoting John Birch Society. William F. Buckley along with the Republican leadership banned the John Birch society from the mainstream of conservative politics.

Buckley republished a portion of his 5,000 word repudiation he gave of the John Birch Society in 1964:

How can the John Birch Society be an effective political instrument while it is led by a man whose views on current affairs are, at so many critical points . . . so far removed from common sense? That dilemma weighs on conservatives across America. . . . The underlying problem is whether conservatives can continue to acquiesce quietly in a rendition of the causes of the decline of the Republic and the entire Western world which is false, and, besides that, crucially different in practical emphasis from their own.

President Obama is wasting no time using this to slam Romney being so friendly to Trump.

Analysis of Republican 2012 Race Now that Huntsman Dropped Out

I did a previous post about a pattern we've seen with the Republican 2012 Presidential field.
The Republican electorate gives a candidate more support than ever, then a month latter that support goes down hill and collapses at a sharp extraordinary rate.

This new Real Clear Politics (RCP) graph (above) gives us more insight into what we can predict. First, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are at their highest RCP averages as of now. Now that Jon Huntsman has dropped out, that 4% of support he managed to get will be distributed mostly to Romney because of Huntsman's endorsement of him and Ron Paul because of the anti-establishment vote despite Huntsman's endorsement of Romney. In my previous post, Romney, Paul, and Santorum had hit his highest RCP average, especially Santorum. Now, Romney and Paul's RCP average are again at a new high. Santorum however has not continued to rise unlike Romney and Paul. Now he is starting to fall. I correctly predicted he would be first among these three to loose the rising momentum and collapse. I think now Santorum has officially reached his peak and point of collapse. He will fall down slightly higher than the numbers Rick Perry is at right now mainly because he's smarter than Perry which isn't saying much.

As for the current frontrunner Mitt Romney, he's getting close to Newt Gingrich's peak at which he collapsed. Gingrich had reached the highest RCP average peak of support. Romney is not like the candidates. Since Romney is the most well funded candidate, he probably wouldn't collapse as fast as the other candidates if he reaches his peak and point of collapse. Let's see how far his rising momentum will go.

Peaks and Collapses in the 2012 Republican Presidential Election

Notice how the 2012 Republican primary is going where the electorate gives a candidate more support than ever, then a month latter that support goes down hill and collapses.
As you can see this Real Clear Politics (RCP) graph (above), most of the Republicans candidates have reached their highest peak in the polls and then sharply gone down hill. It's happened with Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and Newt Gingrich. Rick Perry is practically bordering on the threshold at which Michelle Bachmann dropped out. He indicated he is staying in the race though. Mitt Romney has just recently his hit his highest RCP average in the polls thus far. Although it's unclear whether he's reached his peak and point of collapse. All eyes are on Rick Santorum now since he won second in the Iowa Caucuses. Santorum has surged to second in the polls. In the graph, his surge has sharply intersected with what could be considered Newt Gingrich's collapse. The surge is even steeper than Herman Cain's. Therefore, I predict he will collapse just as fast as Cain did. All that has to happen is a Google Search, learn why he earned the new definition of his name, and for his other radical theocratic beliefs to be known.

Putting yourself in the spotlight is needed to winning a campaign and then again it could be the key to loosing. That's what has happened in the current Republican presidential election. As more of the electorate looked into the current front runner or fast rising star, the more baggage they find about the candidate. This causes the voter to have a more and more unfavorable view about the candidate which eventually makes up their mind about who they won't vote for. Ron Paul still keeps rising slowly but gradually. He is also at his highest RCP average in the polls thus far. For this Republican primary, I think it was a advantage to stay out of the top three frontrunners spotlight early to in the middle of the campaign. This gives Paul, Santorum, and even Jon Huntsman advantage late in the campaign. As of now I suspect it's only matter of time and I suspect not much time before either Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum or Ron Paul will collapse in the polls. One of the three will fall like the rest. Again I'm predicting Santorum will be the first of these three to go.

Fox News Graphics FAIL Alert- Lists Romney Twice in Poll

I was watching Fox and Friends and they had Larry Sabato UVA Political Science professor discussing Ron Paul's successful polling.
It was between 7:40 a.m - 7:50 a.m CT today when they showed a graphics poll. Romney's name was listed twice in place of what I think was suppose to be Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich's name. The graphics poll was only on the screen for two seconds, so Fox must have realized the error.

This isn't their first similar graphics fail.
I don't have the screen shot or video for this but once I obtain it I'll show it.

UPDATED 1/7/12

Someone got it.

Rules of Engagement for 2012 Presidential Election

This will my second and probably my last time voting in the Presidential Election as a Republican. I've been a Republican for three years since I voted foolishly for John McCain in 2008. That was before I actually cared about and understood politics. I'll post in the future why I left the Republican Party. Here's a brief preview and reason: "The Republican Party and it's electorate have have lost their mind". My full "letter of resignation" will be detailed and lengthy.

Still being a Republican, I figured I might as well vote one last time in the 2012 Presidential Election. As many of you know Republican voters say they are not happy with the current GOP field. My personal favorites are Ron Paul and Gary Johnson. Both guys I disagree with on some issues particularly some economic issues. Gary Johnson is my first choice, but since he's not recognized enough I'm going with Ron Paul. If Paul doesn't win the primary or drops out latter I might go with Huntsman or not vote at all in the GOP primary. I'd be going with Huntsman just to give the GOP some credibility but not support him in the general election.


When it comes to the general election if any of these candidates get the GOP nomination, I'm pulling it for Obama and I'm switching to the Democratic Party. If this is what the Republican electorate is made up of now: Newts, Bachmanns, and Romneys/ Bigots, Christian Fundamentalists, and useful idiots pandering to corporate candidates, I can't be a Republican anymore.

Jon Huntsman
Michele Bachmann
Herman Cain
Newt Gingrich
Tim Pawlenty
Mitt Romney
Rick Santorum

Romney Will Lose to Obama in a Debate and in 2012

Just Say NO to Mitt Romney For President



There isn't much honesty, principle, or even sanity within the GOP 2012 field. With the exception of Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, and John Huntsman . One candidate GOP voters better make sure makes it no where near the White House is former governor Mitt Romney. Romney has got the hair, money, experience, and is in the the top four most supported GOP candidates among Republicans. But what exactly does this man have to bring upon our country? Much of it should be brought attention to and the rest is unclear giving Romney's flip flopping. Factors affecting him are of course the health care program in Massachusetts and President Obama's federal plan, abortion, gun control, immigration, gay rights, and yes... his Mormonism.