Bad News Update: It's true. "No one will be able to bring food, water, prescriptions or medical supplies" to the protesters who will be locked inside the Capitol over the weekend (72 hours).
But hey, an ambulance will be on stand-by. This is right in line with Bredesen's sick idea of health care policy. When people get deathly ill from the after-shock of the "Democratic" Governor's cuts to TennCare, they'll also have the option of arriving at Emergency Rooms in ambulances.
Gee, thanks Governor Bredesen. Who knew you were a 'compassionate conservative'?
This is beyond the pale. Supposedly, the protesters have not been arrested because of concern for the fact that some of them are seriously ill and/or disabled. Obviously, there is no such concern. If they were arrested and thrown into jail, they would have food, water, and medicine.
Permitting the protesters to occupy the Capitol, while denying them food, water and medicine is the best plan Bredesen has for making them go away. No food, water, and medicine is not as big a media nightmare for Bredesen as:
"Disabled and Sick Protesters Handcuffed and Thrown Into Jail."
The protesters have not been arrested because Bredesen's number one concern is Bredesen. If the media pays too much attention to the story told by the protesters, Bredesen might look bad. Bredesen might suffer at the polls. Bredesen might face a serious challenge in 2006.
The Governor has chosen to allow the sick and disabled to occupy the Capitol (6 days now) because what he fears most is the media nightmare that would ensue if he ordered their arrest. There is no sign that the Governor is at all concerned about the message from the protesters - some of us will die if you continue to reform TennCare with an axe. There are, however, plenty of signs that Bredesen is thinking night and day about himself.
Bredesen can't hear the message of the protesters because he is busy thinking about his fear that the media might begin to pay serious attention to the real dangers his TennCare Axe presents to the lives of the sick, disabled, elderly and poor.
What Bredesen is thinking about:
''What these people want is a big media show. I don't want to be a prop in a circus.''
"I’m not interested in being a prop for some big media show."
"Look, I'm not interested . . in being a prop in somebody's TV spectacular."
News flash for you Guv, when ordinary citizens want the public to hear their side of the story, they have to resort to desperate measures. When you want your side of the story told, you simply give an order. But then, you wouldn't understand this because as a Millionaire Governor you are not an ordinary citizen. Until you stop thinking about yourself long enough to listen to the ordinary citizens locked inside your luxurious palatial office, you will continue to be a very out-of-touch and a very dangerous Governor. I was a fool to vote for you.
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Here's a great pictorial timeline of the still-going-strong Save TennCare protest inside the Capitol. Really, it's excellent.
Protesters are now settling in for their first weekend locked inside the Capitol. At this time, the word is that they will be denied food and water throughout the weekend.
Surely that can't be true? I realize the Govenor wants the protesters to leave, but . . .
Quote of the Week:
"We will stay as long as necessary, absolutely, no doubt, we are staying." --Louis Patrick
Tag: TennCare
