It's too hot for high drama, but nonetheless we persist (Trump cont.)

[illegitimateMortificadospawn]

I'm all out of inspiration here. The grind is getting us all down, interspersed with terrorist attacks, but we shall overcome. In the meantime, there's gin and camaraderie.

Previous thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2952694

Just thought I'd brighten everyone's day by posting some pics of 45 enjoying playing tennis. Close up included.

I think what shocked me most about the US healthcare system when I looked into it was the cost of all the co-pays on top of the monthly premiums. Some of them were staggering - several thousand dollars - on top of $1500 per month premium for a family of 4.

You know when he tweets MAGA.

Is that just supposed to be a rallying call to his troops?

MissHoolie - that is NOT a good or kind thing to share. Bleurghhhh.

Someone on Twitter had posted their medical bill for their son's operation and hospital stay. It came to almost quarter of a million. Currently most of that is paid thanks for medic aid and they only pay $500, but would have to pay the full amount with Trumpcare.

My first thought when I saw the bill was "where would I find $500 if dd suddenly got sick and we didn't have the NHS?"

I had to unfollow one of the Republicans I follow on Twitter because they were tweeting defending the American insurance system and removing obamacare. I just find it upsetting to think that anyone can think anything other than universal healthcare is acceptable in this day and age, so had to walk away before I started sending furious tweets.

How Trump chose his lawyer has been leaked.

I'd suggest an obvious candidate. Law degree, senior lecturer on Constitutional Law, experience of WDC, Senate and WH, belongs to a minority, likes to explain things in detail. Currently looking for a job.

'The President Show' is..........usually worth watching.

For comparison on costs for healthcare. I earn around £35000. I pay around £3300 per year in national insurance. For that the only thing I ever have to pay even a penny for is dental care and prescriptions and both of these would be free if I had certain illnesses or was pregnant (and they are free for children). If I lost my job or changed jobs I will still get the same level of treatment.

I consider this a blooming bargain. In fact I would happily pay more. It's awesome

Partisan gerrymandering benefited Republicans in 2016 election – report
amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/25/partisan-gerrymandering-republicans-2016-report

The $$$ for even simple medical things seem to add up enormously so for anyone with anything more serious the figures are astronomical.

It's so retrograde.

Everything depends on that if, doesn't it?

I volunteer at my local hospital in the leg and hip trauma ward. Lots of elderly people who have falls, but also some younger people with breaks. One of the things I have realised is how unexpected and sudden it is for most people who end up there. One minute they are rushing to answer the phone, the next they are in hospital with a broken leg. I spoke to one woman the other day who went to sit down and just slipped off her chair and landed badly. An unavoidable accident that could literally happen to anyone and leave them suddenly needing operations and a month long hospital stay. It is crazy to act like it could never happen to you or someone you love. It is frankly inhumane to leave someone with a huge bill at the end of it.

Meanwhile back on the Supreme Court bench things may be stirring again?

Justice Anthony Kennedy retirement watch at a fever pitch
edition.cnn.com/2017/06/24/politics/anthony-kennedy-retirement-rumors/index.html?sr=twpol062517anthony-kennedy-retirement-rumors0121AMVODtopLink&linkId=39072884

I feel so lucky to live somewhere with universal health care. Really hope things don't get that desperate for your cousin across

This seems to be an old Rachel Maddow but it's still of interest, I think?

It seems that the White House holds a dinner to celebrate Eid. Been held since 2006.

www.newsweek.com/eid-al-fitr-trump-iftar-ramadan-628784

But not this year.

“It is disappointing because that’s been a good tradition,” Imam Talib Shareef of the Nation’s Mosque in Washington, D.C., told Newsweek Friday. “To stop it doesn’t send a good message. You get the chance to go golfing and all this other kind of stuff. How come you don’t have time for a population of your society that needs some assistance? The message that it sends is that we’re not that important.

It does send out a message.

I didn't know that they weren't holding it this year. Thanks, Orlantina.

It does indeed send out a message.

Media Matters @mmfa
Fox's Brit Hume: Even if the Trump campaign did collude with Russia, “it’s not a crime”

Joy Reid @JoyAnnReid
Un...real... they're now down to OKing colluding with a hostile foreign power to flip an election (presumably only for Republicans). Wow.

Eric Kleefeld @EricKleefeld
Replying to @mmfa
Right-wingers like Brit Hume view Russian interference as rescue mission to "save" us from multiracial democracy.

More on Medicaid:

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/25/medicaid-republican-healthcare-plan-affordable-care-act

Thanks, Natsku. I hope not, too.

On other fronts: I am hoping beyond hope that Kennedy can hang in there until Scrotus is out of office (January 2021). I don't know if he's having health problems. He is 80 so I can certainly understand his wanting to retire, but I hope he waits if he can.

That being said he was appointed by a GOP President (Ford). But he was also appointed when the SCOTUS was expected to interpret the law fairly and it was not considered a political arm of the ruling party as it is now.

Adam Schiff @RepAdamSchiff
Candidate Trump openly egged on the Russians and celebrated every release of hacked docs, and now as @POTUS, criticizes Obama's response?

There's an interesting perspective expressed by a contributor on this Face The Nation piece - that Dem Leaders should desist from concentrating on Russia. (Not because they ought to but because people, largely, don't care about it - they care about the economy and healthcare more. ) I'd be interested in the views of the American posters in particular.

I suspect that it isn't that people don't care, but a bit like Brexit in the UK, it seems less of an immediate issue when your cupboards are empty and you can't get much needed treatment for an illness.

Perhaps so.

Eliana Johnson @elianayjohnson
No Kennedy retirement announcement at clerk reunion, I'm told, leading to dimming WH hopes he'll step down this year.

Interesting. I'd sort of assumed the man would be stepping down - he's 80 after all.