Two wheels bad: Bachmann on warpath against bike paths

And, clearly sidewalks are bad because they aren’t wide enough to drive your Hummer…

Had to stop laughing re Dave’s post before i could type …

who knew that more socialist evil was afoot … imagine a health care bill that provides ways (bike paths, playgrounds) for people to live in more healthy ways …..

Sidewalks? That’s kids stuff. Let them play with their marbles. What we really need are new billion dollar stadiums in our health care bill to help out our professional baseball players. Clubs will be able to advertise more so the players can be paid more. The stadiums would of course be available for use for the population to improve their health on the days the sports professionals aren’t using it. For example: Did you know you can Rollerblade around the metrodome concourse levels? Really, you can and it’s great for you. See? Win-win. And besides baseball is just good for America!

The woman is clearly a nut.

Bachmann is citing a Boston Globe article on health improvement provisions in the heath care reform bills. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/07/09/in_health_bill_billions_for_parks_paths/?page=2

Where to start? The bill’s proponents are up front that they’re intending reforms to include preventing health problems, not just addressing insurance:
“We spend 75 cents of every healthcare dollar treating people with chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and asthma, and only 4 cents on prevention,’’ [Sen. Tom] Harkin said in a statement. “But the majority of these diseases can be prevented through lifestyle and environmental changes.’’

We have an obesity epidemic. Oberstar, long a bike trail champion, is in his 70’s but is healthier than a lot of couch potatoes 20 years younger, and all Oberstar gets for himself is he can use the trails like anyone else. Farmers markets sometimes make it possible to get fresh produce in areas where supermarkets are scarce, convenience stores might be all that’s available, and nutritional problems tend to be the most common. More and safer playgrounds can only help get children outside and active, and attack obesity related illnesses early.

And how much money are we really talking about? Enough to bailout one Wall Street corporation?

[...] (h/t Minnesota Independent) [...]

[...] How about the government’s estimated $1 billion in unnecessary Medicare payments? Was Bachmann at all concerned when health industry lobbies said they’d rather not be bound by White House savings targets? Apparently not; it’s people walking more that truly frightens the congresswoman. (h/t Minnesota Independent) [...]

This is a disingenuous title for this article. You would think Michelle was against biking or bike paths: “Two Wheels Bad: Bachmann on warpath against bike paths”. Read what she says on her website. She doesn’t state or imply that bikes or bike paths are BAD. She is against spending money for them in a health care bill. I was excited to find your website because I thought I finally found a source of fair and balanced local news. Now I wonder.

“She is against spending money for them in a health care bill.”

But you can bet that she will be all for dropping bombs on Iran – in a health care bill.

“She is against spending money for them in a health care bill.”

Which way did she vote in the Bush Medicare drug benefits program? Did she vote against tying the hands of the government when it came to bargaining over drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry? Isn’t it a waste of taxpayer dollars if the government is not allowed to negotiate lower prices?

No need for you to answer. I know what she did. And if you are not stupid, you would know how she voted.

someone please muzzle that woman! but i do love the laugh i get everytime she opens her mouth. she’s the poster child for stupidity!

death to the gop~

I live in California. Is there no one in Minnesota that can get that thing to shut up. I mean, give it up Michele…with Caribou Barbie now gone…you win! You are without any doubt the most idiotic women in politics. For God’s sake Michele…you are truly hurting all of womenhood.

Shut your “f”ing pie hole!

I realize that’s she insane and dangerously idiotic, but really, isn’t the source of the problem all of the people who actually vote for her? George Bush is an evil man and almost destroyed our country, but I blame my fellow Americans for voting for him more than I blame him for acting out in a way that should have been completely obvious to anyone with an adult mind. It’s time we give an equal amount of criticism to ourselves and our neighbors for being so willfully ignorant or selfishly cynical that the Republicans and conservatives in even exist, let alone be considered any kind of intelligent or moral entity.

Bike paths, sidewalks, safe playgrounds, farmer’s markets, adequate lighting for bike paths and sidewalks, and other “healthy lifestyle” infrastructure projects are every bit about health care reform and health care cost control, not to mention what should be the real focus of healthcare reform – healthier American citizens.

The number one health risk in this country right now is inactivity. Number two is an unhealthy diet. These are major drivers in not just making America a less healthy place but also in skyrocketing health care costs. If we want to control our costs, we have to focus on prevention. Encouraging healthy lifestyles is a big part of that.

The things Bachmann is against in the health care bill may not seem directly related to health care for those who are not paying close attention. However, if you take more than a cursory look, you will realize that they are extremely cost effective ways to not just lower health care costs but also improve the health of the American people. Why not include them in a health care bill, as they stand to greatly improve the health of the nation and, through health care savings, pay for themselves?

Please, please Minnesota, think hard before you re-elect Bachmann.

[...] everyone’s favorite loon, Michele Bachmann (R-MN), isn’t a fan of bike [...]

Don’t you have to have any education, or any sense, or mental health, at all to run for the House of Representatives in this country? What a mess!!

On the other hand, she and her like, proudly showing off their unbalanced-ness, if that’s a word, do provide the proletariat with a lot of belly laughs, and a supply of buffoons upon whom to look down.

Will somebody please explain how Bachmann got elected to anything?
Is her district one big rubber room?
How did anybody manage to lose to her?

one pineapple at Publix market last year: $7.99. Same pineapple at local farmers market: $2.89. People at supermarket: unhappy and shell shocked at prices. People at farmer’s market: smiling and talking to each other.

I used to think this woman intentionally marginalized through provocative comments; now I know she is just stupid.

Not to mention the safety benefits and therefore preventative savings due to reduced number / severity of bike – auto accidents.

Bachmann is not just certifiable insane, she is also abysmally stupid. Who on earth elected that embarrassing creature?

Sigh, Michelle, please go back on your meds! And shut up already. You’re an embarrassment to all Minnesota and to all Minnesotans. The ONLY thing you do, maybe why Republicans like when you talk, you make the rest of them and their scandals seem petty in comparison to your paranoid and ignorant stances and hot air spoken whims of any moment. Next week bike paths will be satanic and bicycling is evil because you said so. Sorry world, not all Minnesotans voted for this right wing crazy kook.

Take a look at the Minnesota Congressional District map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota%27s_congressional_districts

Bachman is from the 6th. The Republicans held the house and senate the last time the districts were drawn. The 6th is constructed to elect Republicans. The 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th are held by Democrats and the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th are held by Republicans. The DFL picking up the 1st was a minor miracle. (I contributed to Walz and to Bachman’s opponent even though I am hardly made of money).

It should be telling that the ratio is 5-3 DFL to Republican (and FINALLY 2 DFL Senators!) when the map was drawn by Republicans. I’m also quite proud that the 7th and the 8th are solidly Democratic despite being incredibly rural. The 8th is good old fashioned Iron Range labor Democrats.

Bachman gets her support from a combination of religious conservative and Catholic pro-life support. She almost lost last time to Elwyn Tinklenberg and she probably will lose next time (provided we do NOT make her shut her mouth!). I say, “Sing on, sister!” to the crazy lady. She will do the best job making the DFL case next time.