Let us play a word substitution game, because you can learn a lot about someone by substituting analogues for what they say. And if they object, it’s only because they employ situation ethics. If you are unfamiliar with that phrase, you can substitute it with moral hypocrisy.

Question One. Which of the following did President Obama actually say?

1. “My answer is that if the private insurance companies are providing a good bargain, and if the public option has to be self-sustaining—meaning taxpayers aren’t subsidizing it, but it has to run on charging premiums and providing good services and a good network of doctors, just like any other private insurer would do—then I think private insurers should be able to compete. They do it all the time. I mean, if you think about it, UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? No, they are. It’s the post office that’s always having problems.”
2. “My answer is that if the automotive industries are providing a good bargain, and if the government intervention has to be self-sustaining—meaning taxpayers aren’t subsidizing it, but it has to run on competing with non-union personnel, just like any other auto maker would do—then I think manufacturers should be able to compete. They do it all the time. I mean, if you think about it, Honda and Toyota are doing just fine, right? No, they are. It’s the American auto maker that’s always having problems.”
3. “My answer is that if doctors are providing a good value, and if the hospital has to be self-sustaining—meaning taxpayers aren’t subsidizing it, but it has to run on charging for its services and providing good services and a good access to healthcare technology, just like any other private facility would do—then I think private healthcare facilities should be able to compete. They do it all the time. I mean, if you think about it, hospitals and medical care places are doing just fine, right? No, they are. It’s the free government clinic that’s always having problems.”

Question Two. Does it make any difference?

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.