Thank goodness the big effing deal of Healthcare reform is over, so we can finally get the President back to work dealing with an out-of-control foreign policy, a disastrous oil spill, and an economy that continues to worsen.

And so? The President decides to appoint—without any Congressional approval—Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Because there is no problem so severe that it cannot be fixed by talking about healthcare.

You will be seeing a lot discussion—from both sides—on the fact that Berwick was brought in through the back door. One side will argue that he is a private consultant from outside the industry, and that lots of presidents used recess appointments. The other side will argue that Berwick is another Harvard professor with no real work experience who has openly espoused redistribution of wealth and British-style government rationing based on book theory.

As GorT would say, gotta love the President’s sense of transparency. Fortunately, though, Berwick will face renomination in January when Congress resumes. And we expect this to be a largely Republican Congress…so expect no end to the horror stories that will come out—not so much about Dr. Berwick, although those will be pretty disturbing, but about our President and what he really intends with his healthcare reform act.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.