One liners and talking points.

Much has been made of Wolf Blitzer's question to Ron Paul at the GOP debate.

Wolf Blitzer: You’re a physician, Ron Paul, so you’re a doctor. You know something about this subject. Let me ask you this hypothetical question.

A healthy 30-year-old young man has a good job, makes a good living, but decides: “You know what? I’m not going to spend $200 or $300 a month for health insurance because I’m healthy, I don’t need it.” But something terrible happens, all of a sudden he needs it. Who’s going to pay if he goes into a coma, for example? Who pays for that?

My question is who pays for that now? How does that work? I guess he goes to a county hospital and just doesn't pay the bill? Or if he has a good job, he ultimately files bankruptcy (thus discharging the debt and leaving the bill unpaid) or maybe he negotiates the fee way down and pays pennies on the dollar? And ultimately, the hospital district taxpayers and people with insurance make up the shortfall?

That's what I think happens, but I don't know for sure. Maybe one of you healthcare wonks in our readership can enlighten us.

Anyhow, if that's the case, there are three obvious positions:
1) Is Good System. Keep the status quo.
2) Make that dude pay for insurance. That is, Obama-style federal mandate.
3) If he can't pay cash and doesn't have insurance, that coma is his problem. Good luck.

I think Ron Paul chose #3, but disguised it by saying the churches will take care of him. Which is great, if that happens. But isn't the logical extension of Paul’s position that if the churches don't take care of him, that coma is his own problem, and good luck to you, sir?

Unless someone from the Ron Paul campaign tells us otherwise, we’re putting Paul down for position #3, and noting he hopes churches will help the dude out.

And, F you high-horse media, reporting the Tea Party crowd cheered when Blitzer asked Paul if you just let him die. First of all, it's not really accurate that the whole crowd cheered. There were a few "Play Freebird" style hollers. Second, letting the dude die is a legitimate option. Just because it offends your morals and view of the role of government doesn't mean it's wrong, self-righteous NPR reporter.

Legalize Dogfighting.