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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 10:21 PM CDT
LETTER: Stop waging war and provide health care

ELLEN WOLCOTT, Charleston

David Morris recently published an article in the Minnesota Star Tribune concerning the costs of health care and of war and our nation’s approach to both.

He says, “When it comes to healthcare, the emphasis is on costs.” We see little discussion of costs and deficits when we talk about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Did anyone notice that earlier this month, the Senate voted 93-7 to supply more funding to the wars, bringing the total to $1 trillion? Apparently, we can spend billions of dollars to kill people but not to save them.

David Morris goes on to analyze why our country thinks this way. “War is a matter of national security” is one argument he mentions. He posits the idea that health care should be a matter of national security.

According to a recent study from the American Journal of Public Health, over 48,000 Americans die every year because of no access to health care.

That’s about 300,000 Americans that have died for lack of health care since we’ve been in Iraq.

Think about it – if the point of our wars is to save American lives, we could save a lot more lives by providing health care for everyone in this country rather than spending it on wars.

That $1 trillion that we have spent could have saved many of those 300,000 lives.

What a waste of lives, money, and resources those wars have been.

It’s time to stop waging war and provide health care for everyone instead.

ELLEN WOLCOTT

Charleston

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NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 22, 2009 8:57 AM:

" David Morris recently published an article in the Minnesota Star Tribune...
----

Now why would you be reading columns from the uber-liberal Minnesota Star Tribune? That is THE QUESTION! Hmmmm...think, think, think! Since the MST's bankrupt? "

father bob wrote on Oct 22, 2009 9:40 AM:

" you're a great american ellen wolcott. "

father bob wrote on Oct 22, 2009 10:43 AM:

" NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 22, 2009 8:57 AM:
" David Morris recently published an article in the Minnesota Star Tribune...
----

Now why would you be reading columns from the uber-liberal Minnesota Star Tribune? That is THE QUESTION! Hmmmm...think, think, think! Since the MST's bankrupt? """"""

um......do you EVER research anything before you open your ignorant yap? you'd better google it, then we'll wait for your apology to mrs. wolcott. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 22, 2009 12:49 PM:

" AHHH Stumpy Bob...why such a hater?

then we'll wait for your apology to THE QUESTION.... "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 22, 2009 12:53 PM:

" Ahhhh Stumpy Bob...

You'll have to forgive me..I'm having some joint pain today...

THE QUESTION is when do I get my apology from you....

'Star Tribune files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy'

Facing sharp revenue declines, the newspaper seeks bankruptcy protection, hoping to cut costs and restructure debt.

By DAVID PHELPS, Star Tribune
Last update: January 16, 2009 - 6:31 AM
http://www.startribune.com/business/37685134.html "

Matt Toon wrote on Oct 22, 2009 12:56 PM:

" I am sure that Osama bin Laden would strongly oppose national health care in the U.S. for a couple different reasons.
First, bin laden is extremely conservative in terms of political ideology. Furthermore, he is also theologically conservative. Second, the lack of national health care in the U.S. results in tens of thousands of American deaths each year. That has to make him really joyous. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 22, 2009 8:31 PM:

" Wow...such dramatic prose.

Where oh where have we heard this kind of DRAMA in a post? OOPS! "

The Question wrote on Oct 23, 2009 4:41 AM:

" Corporations make lots of nice, no-bid money from war, Ellen. And corporations make lots more money from charging Americans top dollar for health care and then denying it to them. And because they have so many billions, it's no trouble for them to slice off a little of that money to bribe politicians who will provide them with them more war profiteering and more lucrative opportunities to deny Americans their health care. It's an ugly system, but it works. "

prairieguy wrote on Oct 23, 2009 8:14 AM:

" Thank you, Ms. Wolcott. The title of your article says it all. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 23, 2009 8:21 AM:

" Dick Cheney has gone public once again in his efforts to be relevant. This time it's over the Afghanistan war. He now says that they gave Obama their secret plan and that he used it. Must not have been much of a plan considering where we're at today, huh?
Despite the vituperative attacks from Fox news, the right wing radio extremists and Cheney, I think Obama is on the right track. It appears that is taking a more methodical route and weighing all options. Unlike the Bush administration who jumped into a war with Iraq based on false information, the current Commander in Chief is not subject to knee jerk reactions like those of Dick Cheney. The bottom line is that we are in this mess because the Bush administration neglected the problems in Afghanistan. Cheney can pout all he wants but like his fellow right wingers he won't have an influence in this administration. "

Bernie wrote on Oct 23, 2009 8:45 AM:

" I agree about the deaths, but disagree about the cost of honest health coverage reform. Simply by cutting out unreliable, greedy, immoral, unnecessary middlemen and utilizing efficiencies of scale, we could easily provide far more care at way less cost, just like every other civilized nation on Earth (but ours) does now.

Improved Medicare for All would save a minimum of over $200 Billion per year in administartive costs alone, compared to what we're spendig now, after everyone is covered reliably and comprehensively.

BTW, Obama and the Democrats are in the process of selling us out to the health unsurance industry. Feeding the "Beast That IS the Problem" will not solve the problem. The way we know they're selling us out is because they want to spend more, when honest reform would save both lives and money. "

Jon Vanatta wrote on Oct 23, 2009 9:16 AM:

" Right Ellen we should just stop resisting Islam and just let them take us over. I don't think they will care to much about your health. And they do plan to take us over. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 23, 2009 9:44 AM:

" Right Ellen we should just stop resisting Islam and just let them take us over. I don't think they will care to much about your health. And they do plan to take us over. "

They're the new commies, right Jon? "

father bob wrote on Oct 23, 2009 11:32 AM:

" Harry Potter wrote on Oct 23, 2009 9:44 AM:
" Right Ellen we should just stop resisting Islam and just let them take us over. I don't think they will care to much about your health. And they do plan to take us over. "

They're the new commies, right Jon? """""

muslims are the new catholics.

their job is to procreate and spread their faith, and they do it well. europe is becoming largely muslim and in a few generations, we'll follow suit just due to cultural differences.

also in a few generations, we'll be a country of mostly brown skinned people. the hispanic population as well as the influx of europeans and mid easterners will genetically change our offspring. genetically, dark hair, skin and brown eyes are dominant. it will be a grand thing! the smelting pot that our forefathers had wanted. "

Bernie wrote on Oct 23, 2009 1:09 PM:

" Ironically we helped Iraq write a new constitutional guarantee of health care for all of its citizens. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 2:09 PM:

" More proof that when a leftist's mouth or pen is moving, you're going to witness a lie.

My independent study concludes that 95% of Dems lie 80% of the time and at least 70% are on the take. I'll reveal my evidence when I'm good and ready but take it from me, it's rock solid. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 2:28 PM:

" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are being destroyed by a philosophy that creates two dangerous trains of thought. The first is that we are entitled to a certain standard of living, and it is the government's duty to ensure this outcome. The second is the driving force behind the first thought, which has its basis in false compassion.

I say false compassion not because I doubt the hearts of many who want to help the poor or otherwise needy. I say false because of the direction or outlet they choose (or are brainwashed/tricked into) for this emotion. It is compassionate to help the poor, certainly, but true compassion is a personal act that cannot be delegated. If you feel strongly that something needs to be done to help the homeless, then you get together with like-minded individuals and set up a charitable organization to do this... or you can simply hand out cash, if that's how you choose to help. THAT is compassion in action.

The problem with government programs to help the poor is that you are now forcing others to contribute. You are, in effect, harming those who are now taxed to fund your policy. Sure, you feel better about yourself for "helping", but where is the compassion for those who now are being forced to pay for _your_ compassion. The unintended consequences of this are many, and I'm sure we all can identify some of them right off the top of our heads. The hidden damage that such harm does year in and year out to the entire tax-paying population is HUGE.

How many could better themselves with eduction, save more for retirement, put their kids through college, pay down debt, spur the economy with purchases, and/or start new business ventures (or invest in one) if your tax bill was suddenly reduced by 2/3?

This is not an exaggeration. This is where we are now. This is where the entitlement mentality and false compassion philosophy has gotten us. 2/3 of every tax dollar collected (soon to be a lot more, if the majority party has its way) is redistributed via SS, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, federal housing, and other federal "entitlement" programs.

The ultimate harm that will soon be thrust upon us if we don't wake up, isn't that we'll end up as a socialist nation (we will), but that as a nation we will go bankrupt. The impact of this on us, and our children, will be enormous.

Tell me, where is the moral authority to continue spending our children's future away? Where is the compassion for them? Where is the compassion for those who make this country work? Where is the compassion for the taxpayer?

I don't doubt that most care and want to help, but this emotion is being twisted by the power brokers in DC, who use it to retain their power. People no longer look to themselves to help their neighbor, not even to the city or state, but to the federal government. How did we get to such a sad state of affairs? This becomes even more puzzling given the record of the federal government on management and implementation of so-called entitlements.

Next time some politician comes up with a new entitlement program claiming it will help , take out your paystub and a calculator. Show this charleton how much taxes you pay now, calculate 2/3 of it, and then show him that number. Explain to him that this numbe is what you are forced to pay due to this sort of "compassion". Also explain that this form of "compassion" is ultimately going to sink us. Explain that we alreadly tax and redistribution 2/3 of every tax dollar collected into programs of "compassion" (that was nearly $1.6 trillion in 2007). Ask him why $1.6 trillion isn't enough. Ask him how we can even sustain the growth of current programs, much less add to them. I'll bet you get a blank stare and a sound bite that doesn't even come close to a real answer. "

father bob wrote on Oct 23, 2009 2:35 PM:

" Jon Vanatta wrote on Oct 23, 2009 9:16 AM:
" Right Ellen we should just stop resisting Islam and just let them take us over. I don't think they will care to much about your health. And they do plan to take us over. """"

jon, i'll bet you support missionaries who are spreading the word of jesus. am i right???? "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 2:46 PM:

" Senate passes hate crime law attached to defense bill

As American citizens we do have certain rights and one of these rights is free speech and I will use this right to protest what this administration is doing to destroy our country.
And I will continue to protest against the abhorant lifestyles of those that go against Biblical values. I will NOT recognize their lifestyle as being anything other than what it is, unnatural and wrong. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 3:10 PM:

" I hate sneak attacks against the average American Families. Special interest laws are unnecessary and disrupts the entire system of justice. There are already more than enough laws not to protect all Americans. The killer of Martin Luther king is still in prison the last I heard along with the killers of Matthew Shepard. This "Hate Crimes Law" is a political move by the do-gooders in Congress who next will all be taking showers together. "

even steven wrote on Oct 23, 2009 3:11 PM:

" Harry Potter wrote on Oct 23, 2009 9:44 AM:
"They're the new commies, right Jon? "

That's just silly. Everyone knows the new commies are in the White House. "

devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 3:33 PM:

" I cannot belive the paper would publish this racist garbage : Jon said : Jon Vanatta wrote on Oct 23, 2009 9:16 AM:

" Right Ellen we should just stop resisting Islam and just let them take us over. I don't think they will care to much about your health. And they do plan to take us over. "

Doesn't the posting rules say you're not allowed to post racist remarks?? Thats exactly what this is!!! No one is trying to "take us over" I really wish that some of the posters to this board would think, before they just spout off a bunch of drivel!!!

The truth is that unless we are over there serving in the armed forces in the Middle East we do not know what is going on over there. Many of the top generals in the U.S. Military have said that we are not able to pull troops out yet, the citizens who are agains the Taliban forces are not yet properly equppied to take care of things on their own yet. The Taliban has been a threat to the United States since the Clinton Adminstration, recent "attack plots" against the current adminstration by those claiming alligence to the Taliban have been foiled and discussed on CNN.

I understand that many of us need healthcare but we cannot cut our military forces in order to get that health care. There are plenty of goverment programs that waste our money, NASA just spent 79 Million bucks to bomb the moon for what purpose? To see if there was water on it? How stupid was that?? How many people could have had health care for that 79 million that was wasted?? We could make drastic cuts to the space program because we've "been there done that more than once" do we really need to fund goverment polls, thousand dollar a plate dinners, etc etc. Right now our military forces are doing their jobs which is to protect us from all enemies foriegn and domestic. If we want health care we need to make the insurance companies, drug manufautures and the current politicians to all work toghter to cut costs. Why not force our politicians to take drastic pay cuts and use that money to pay for health care for everyone?? Of course that would never happen but it could work "

father bob wrote on Oct 23, 2009 4:37 PM:

" devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 3:33 PM:
"Why not force our politicians to take drastic pay cuts and use that money to pay for health care for everyone?? Of course that would never happen but it could work """""

i really wouldn't worry about cutting their pay, they really don't make that much money....i WOULD however ban the acceptance of any outside funds from PACs, lobbyists, corporations or any other source of income while they hold office. that in itself inflates the products and services we receive, let alone the free rein these interests have on our lives because of it.

we should also cut NASA the space program about 80%. fund the R&D that helps our lives but ax future exploration missions and experiments like the lunar explosion. the space station and science gained from it should be the only thing kept. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 23, 2009 5:12 PM:

" Bernie wrote on Oct 23, 2009 1:09 PM:

" Ironically we helped Iraq write a new constitutional guarantee of health care for all of its citizens. "

Thanks for pointing that out, Bernie. I didn't know if it as passed or not, but I do remember laughing when I first heard Bush was pushing for it. Yes, it is rather ironic. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 23, 2009 5:42 PM:

" devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 3:33 PM:

" I cannot belive the paper would publish this racist garbage : Jon said : Jon Vanatta wrote on Oct 23, 2009 9:16 AM:...

I agree with your assessment, devlishangel. Sort of hard to believe that he comes on here and claims he's a Christian. I know of no Church, at least in this area, that actually preaches the kind of hatred he does on a daily basis. I actually think he's lost in some sort of a time warp. "

Bernie wrote on Oct 23, 2009 6:10 PM:

" Private health insurance is totally unreliable, yet it costs an average of $13,500/yr./family for group coverage through an employer, not including deductibles, co-pays and exclusions.

That is more than 25% of the median household income (gross not net).

Imagine if every families' taxes went up by over 25% AND they had to pay out-of-pocket expenses to the tune of thousands of dollars on top of that. NO one pays as much as we do for the priviledge of propping up multi-billion-dollar profits, CEO salaries, and unnecessary overhead currently created by immoral, greedy, unnecessary middlemen. They force us to waste valuable time sorting through indecipherable allpes, oranges and kumquat policies that only limit what we will be covered for, and which providers we will be allowed to see.

I say we unite into one America, under God, undivided, with health care liberty and justice for all. To not do so is idiotic.

WWJD? "

devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 6:40 PM:

" "More proof that when a leftist's mouth or pen is moving, you're going to witness a lie.

My independent study concludes that 95% of Dems lie 80% of the time and at least 70% are on the take. I'll reveal my evidence when I'm good and ready but take it from me, it's rock solid. "

Cedric I am intrested in knowning how many Republicans lie how much of time they lie and how many of them are on the take. I am so tired of everyone blaming the Democrats for the mess this country is in!! For 8 years we had a Republican President! From where I am standing, it seems taht both the Republcans and the Democrats are far more intrested in pointing fingers at each other and aruging saying its the other parties fault then they are in helping any of us "average Joe's or Jane's" I think its time for some major changes!! "

devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 23, 2009 7:00 PM:

" Cedric I am intrested in this: "This is not an exaggeration. This is where we are now. This is where the entitlement mentality and false compassion philosophy has gotten us. 2/3 of every tax dollar collected (soon to be a lot more, if the majority party has its way) is redistributed via SS, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, federal housing, and other federal "entitlement" programs. " How do you feel these are "entitlement programs"

Do you think people choose to be poor? Give me a break, yah I really chose to get injured at my second job that I worked after my divorce, bad enough to become considred "disabled", have an abusive ex-husband that controlled me endlessly and left me with no skills since I wasn't allowed to work, or go to college, grow up in a working class family that told me when I reached 18 to get out of the house, so that college was not a viable option, have to go for a few years on food stamps, get a medical card because I cannot work and pay for health care and get federal housing assistance so my 2 special needs kids and I didn't have to live in an efficancy apartment in a terrible neighboorhood. And if the tax bill is cut 2/3 what do you expect people to do that work minimum wage jobs because that is all they can get or are qualified for?? Do you expect them to allow their children to go hungry? Or to get no assistance for housing or not to live in a rent controlled apartment ( aka Goverment Housing) its all fine and good to think "people will help" I have met many wonderful people who are well off who feel it is their duty to help those who have less then they do but I have also met many who are all about doing for themselves and to heck with anyone else!!

I have worked since I was 14 years old save for the time I was married ( 5 years) I have always held 2 jobs until I became unable to work, I have never in my life felt as though I was "entitled" to anything and I don't know many people in my situation who feel they are entitled to help either! Many are ashamed to take welfare or charity help, I am ashamed and embarassed that I have to be on SSI and Medicaid, but I paid into all that stuff when I worked, so I refuse to allow anyone to make me feel guilty for taking it, because without the little I get both my daughter and I would be in an unsanitary hole of an apartment living in a very bad unsafe neighboorhood , without any health insurance ( I've had asthma since I was 9) and without food. How is that a "solution to anyone?

The reason that so many are hurting is because there are tons of goverment programs that are not needed and waste taxpayers money! There are few to no "blue collar" jobs left in this country because everything is "outsourced" to China and Mexico! Not everyone has grown up with some silver spoon in their mouth, grown up with a family who is capapble of getting them onto college and graduate school. Have you ever been poor? I have my entire life! Poverty is a vicious cyle to break! There is little money in the job you have, the goverment both Federal and State take out their portion, what is left goes to daycare, getting to and from work, rent, food, power and water! That does not even cover: clothing, school costs for minor children, emergencies, health care etc etc.. so then you are dependant on programs ran by guess who? The Federal Goverment!! The reason we have the goverment is so that it can take care of the people of this country ALL of this country's people!!! Not just those who are middle class and wealthy but everyone!! I sure never asked to be poor and I sure as hell wouldn't choose it but I could be a lot of other things that are much worse! "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 23, 2009 7:06 PM:

" That's just silly. Everyone knows the new commies are in the White House. "

Wow, just last week you right wingers were saying Obama was a Socialist. So now he's a Communist? You guys need to make up your mind. Seriously even, do you even know the difference between Socialism and Communism? "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 23, 2009 8:25 PM:

" " Corporations make lots of nice, no-bid money from war, Ellen.
---------------------

That's funny, now Ellen is talking to herself! "

jrhendren wrote on Oct 24, 2009 12:27 AM:

" Harry Potter wrote on Oct 23, 2009 7:06 PM:
" That's just silly. Everyone knows the new commies are in the White House. "

Wow, just last week you right wingers were saying Obama was a Socialist. So now he's a Communist? You guys need to make up your mind. Seriously even, do you even know the difference between Socialism and Communism? "

Harry quick question. Why do you and others have this need to lump anyone who believes different then you as extreme right? I believe you to be to the left, but not one of those that are so far left that you believe your guy is always right. Those on the extreme are not going to ever listen to reason, or believe the facts even if you had pictures, video, and person handwritten affidavits. Look at those that are still screaming about Obama's birth certificate, and that Bush wanted people to die in New Orleans. Don't lump all those on the right with those that are far right. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 24, 2009 1:49 AM:

" The latest is the story of a woman who had to fight her doctors for weeks after they withdrew care from her 80-year-old mother. According to the London Times:

Hazel Fenton, from East Sussex, is alive nine months after medics ruled she had only days to live, withdrew her antibiotics, and denied her artificial feeding. The former school matron had been placed on a controversial care plan intended to ease the last days of dying patients.

Doctors say Fenton is an example of patients who have been condemned to death on the Liverpool care pathway plan. They argue that while it is suitable for patients who do have only days to live, it is being used more widely in the NHS, denying treatment to elderly patients who are not dying. "

The Question wrote on Oct 24, 2009 6:21 AM:

" Actually, 54 percent of the federal budget is spent on the military, including veterans' benefits. Social entitlement spending pales beside it. The U.S. spends more on what it calls "defense" than the next 15 countries combined, and accounts for HALF THE TOTAL MILITARY SPENDING IN THE WORLD. It's the military-industrial complex that's eating this country alive, folks, just as Eisenhower warned us.
And for all the trillions they hemorrhage, the Pentagon can't even stop a handful of Saudis armed with box cutters, or keep its anthrax biological weapons from being used on the American people themselves. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 24, 2009 11:40 AM:

" Wow, just last week you right wingers were saying Obama was a Socialist. So now he's a Communist? You guys need to make up your mind. Seriously even, do you even know the difference between Socialism and Communism? "
-----------------------
Obama can be both a socialist and a Communist.

Communism is socialism to the extreme left.

Fascism is extreme socialism to the right.

Both pander to 'dissaffected' groups (social units).

Communists pander to the 'poor' and the 'worker class'.

Fascists pander to the 'disaffected' in the corporate class.

All social units, whether as small as a family of four, or disparate tribal units like with the ancient Greeks (Athenians, Trojans, Macedonians, etc.), or large homogeneous societies like Japan's have/had some type of exchange of unit(s) of value.

It's why the Fascists hated the Communists and vice versa in World War 2.

So as Capitalism is an economic system that involves the gathering of resoure(s), bartering to establish value of the resource(s), and then adding to the resource(s) in some way to increase resource(s) value, all social systems use some type of resource or capital exchange to equalize, decrease, of increase the standard of the individual (purist capitalism with minimal social consideration) or social class(es) they represent.

Both types of 'socialisms' have garnered success via charasmatic leadership, community organation of some disaffected group(s) to improve the economic status of the disaffected classes they have organized and represent.

Communism - Socialism to the Left:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IGbjPqFFvA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Q_d2e6qzc

Fascism - Socialism to the Right:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH0Et56Hxt4&feature=player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7dHxE34tQY&feature=related

Quasi-neutral Interpretation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_DaMKUP3Og&feature=related "

The Question wrote on Oct 24, 2009 12:29 PM:

" Republicans and Democrats, with hefty checks coming in the mail from the insurance companies and the drug companies, claim the government just can't afford to provide Americans with adequate or even minimal health care, and will have to cut Social Security and Medicare as well.
But the same politicians say the same government must spend unlimited trillions to invade and permanently occupy countries halfway the world, in order to pretend that such invasions and occupations will somehow, in some unspecified and unstated manner, stop terrorist attacks.
In fact, they will INVITE terrorist attacks. Every CIA drone that blows up yet another "collateral damage" family leaves somebody behind who will spend the rest of his life waiting for a nice, fat chance to slaughter Americans.
And when that happens, that will "justify" more profitable invasions, more lucrative occupations and more torture and repression. And that will guarantee more eventual payback to the American people.
Of course, there's always the chance the Chinese will decide to stop loaning the American government money to finance its military invasions, and end that threat by completely collapsing the U.S. economy.
I've gotten a look at the end of this story, and it isn't too pretty. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 24, 2009 12:30 PM:

" Harry quick question. Why do you and others have this need to lump anyone who believes different then you as extreme right? I believe you to be to the left, but not one of those that are so far left that you believe your guy is always right. Those on the extreme are not going to ever listen to reason, or believe the facts even if you had pictures, video, and person handwritten affidavits. Look at those that are still screaming about Obama's birth certificate, and that Bush wanted people to die in New Orleans. Don't lump all those on the right with those that are far right. "

I can't answer or anyone but myself, jr. I was addressing that to someone who seems to fit in that category. I say that from having read his posts for quite a while. I would also not that many of the right side are guilty of the same thing. For the record, I have never put you in that category. As a matter of fact you and I have agreed on several issues, and will probably do so in the future, even though we obviously disagree in some areas. If I would get the same degree of respect from my distractors that you have always shown me, I would respond in kind. But I don't, so I don't even try anymore. I'm not trying to convert anyone to my view but am merely saying what I think. You're certainly right in that there are degrees of extremism on both the left and the right in the political spectrum. I've never considered my self a far left liberal, certainly I lean to the left, but as you know there are some on the right that see me as that. I would agree that civility, from both sides, on this site would be nice, but I gave up on that a long time ago. No, I don't think Obama has been perfect and he has made his share of mistakes, but in general, I agree with what he's trying to do to make this a better country for all of us. If the majority of the country doesn't agree with him, they will respond in 2012. I hope this answers your question. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 24, 2009 8:20 PM:

" " Actually, 54 percent of the federal budget is spent on the military, including veterans' benefits. Social entitlement spending pales beside it.
______________________________

It would be nice IF YOU TOLD THE TRUTH JUST ONCE...oh but if you do that they won't put your lies into print...

Go to :

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/USbudget/fy09/browse.html

and sift through the maze of documents. If you look closely its the same as what's found on WIKIPEDIA...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/Fy2009spendingbycategory2.png

Government Program / Percentage of Spending

Spending Social / 21.05%
Medicare / 13.34%
Medicad / 7.32%
Unemployment 11.8%
National Debt / 8.5 %
DOD-Military/ 16.85%
War on Terror / 4.75%

Doing the math that's 53.48% on social spending and 21.6% on military and 4.75% on security spending.

So tell some more lies...it always seems to get your posts put into the paper. "

Cognitus wrote on Oct 24, 2009 9:18 PM:

" devilsangel"Cedric I am intrested in knowning how many Republicans lie how much of time they lie and how many of them are on the take."

I can tell you one who lies: our very own Congressman. When he was through here on a "town-hall" circuit in the late summer,he was quoting data from the Lewin Group, which he called
"an INDEPENDENT health research group."

So now FROM THE LEWIN GROUP'S OWN WEBSITE:"The Lewin Group is an Ingenix company. Ingenix, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group"

So who besides our Congressman thinks the Lewin Group is "independent". "

Cognitus wrote on Oct 24, 2009 9:27 PM:

" devilsangel:"I am ashamed and embarassed that I have to be on SSI and Medicaid, but I paid into all that stuff when I worked, so I refuse to allow anyone to make me feel guilty..."
No I'm not saying you should feel guilty.
But since we and THE GOVERNMENT seem to be keeping you afloat, I don't think I would curse the government quite so bitterly as you. "

Cognitus wrote on Oct 24, 2009 9:33 PM:

" cedric66:"Hazel Fenton, from East Sussex, is alive nine months after medics ruled she had only days to live, withdrew her antibiotics, and denied her artificial feeding. The former school matron had been placed on a controversial care plan intended to ease the last days of dying patients."

I'll bet anything this is an "urban
legend".
=======================================
Cedric66, to prove your case, simply tell us IN WHICH ISSUE OF THE LONDON TIMES -- DATE PLEASE -- YOU FOUND THIS ITEM.
Else we must conclude it is a falsehood. "

Matt Toon wrote on Oct 25, 2009 5:58 AM:

" One thing that could greatly improve the health and safety of the people of Illinois is conceal-carry. Violent crime is increasing in many areas and people need to be able to defend themselves. A prime example is Decatur, where just a few days ago a man was repeatedly shot and critically wounded for no apparent reason. He was not robbed. This guy was not a bum and he wasn't homeless. He was a local accountant. Several weeks ago in Decatur a man was beaten to death by a group of youths as he was going home from work. This also was for no apparent reason other than the "thrill of the kill." Another man was beaten and critically injured. This sort of violence was highly unusual in the past, but apparently not today. People need better means to protect themselves and conceal-carry is one of those means. "

devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 25, 2009 12:06 PM:

" Cognitus wrote on Oct 24, 2009 9:27 PM:

" devilsangel:"I am ashamed and embarassed that I have to be on SSI and Medicaid, but I paid into all that stuff when I worked, so I refuse to allow anyone to make me feel guilty..."
No I'm not saying you should feel guilty.
But since we and THE GOVERNMENT seem to be keeping you afloat, I don't think I would curse the government quite so bitterly as you. " Are you kidding me??? So because you "feel" that the goverment is "keeping me afloat" I have no right to complain??? Give me a break!!! I am hardly "afloat" and I have every right to complain as loudly as the rest of you do this is a free country after all!! Social Security is paid into by those who worked I worked until I was no longer able to do so!! That is what the Social Security Disability program is there for!! I get barely enough to meet all of my bills and support my two kids every month and still feed my daughter and myself yet I get too much to get help other than a medical card! I am tired of the goverment my goverment that is supposed to be "for the people of the people and by the people" not reconizing people like me, and there are many of us out there! I am tired of having to choose every month between paying my bills and having food and what I need for my kids to be clean and have clean clothes and have gas in my car to run everyone to appointments. People seem to think that when you get any type of social security you get "all this money" and it is not true! I struggle every minute of every day and if I try to go out which I have tried several times and am just unable to do, then I risk loosing the little bit of money I do have. I buy 90% of everything generic every single peice of furniture I own save for my daughter's bed which my mom bought her for a birthday gift is used!! Its all second hand!! Every electrnnic item I have in my house is a cast off from a pawn shop or a relative. I eat cereal all but the one meal a day I eat with my child so that she can have the decent healthy food I do manage to buy. I have to look up to see the poverty level and you tell me I shouldn't complain as bitterly as I do?? I am bitter and I am sorry if I come across rude but I'm tired of everyone from news anchors, to the goverment to society telling me that "because I am needy I have no right to complain" I am being hurt just as badly as everyone else is. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 25, 2009 2:35 PM:

" I can tell you one who lies: our very own Congressman. When he was through here on a "town-hall" circuit in the late summer,he was quoting data from the Lewin Group, which he called
"an INDEPENDENT health research group."

So now FROM THE LEWIN GROUP'S OWN WEBSITE:"The Lewin Group is an Ingenix company. Ingenix, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group"

So who besides our Congressman thinks the Lewin Group is "independent". "
----------------------

WOW! THIS POST IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SEEING IN PRINT TOMORROW!

But if our congressman is a lair, what would you call you liberals "news" service providers of choice, NBC and PMSNBC, when they cite their "non-partisan sources" like The Brookings Institute, The Center for Economic Policy, and the Economic Policy Institute, amongst others, that are supposedly non-partisan?

Do we call them Obama Propagandists or just flat out LIARS too? "

shumphreys wrote on Oct 25, 2009 3:07 PM:

" Matt Toon we don't need conceal carry laws we need to put an end to violence by getting at the root of the cause. As long as we continue to ignore the root of the violence, like a cancer it will continue to grow and spread. Criminals will just get bigger guns than you have and before you know it the US will look like Palestine or Somalia or Afghanistan, with men with automatic weapons and rocket launchers walking down our streets. "

The Question wrote on Oct 25, 2009 4:41 PM:

" On Wikipedia, you will find attempts to distort the U.S. budget picture of how your income taxes are spent by including trust funds (Social Security, which is funded by payroll taxes) and by counting the expenses created by past military spending as nonmilitary spending, instead of what it really is: military spending. The true budget figure for FY 2009 is 54 percent, or $1,449 billion, spent on the military. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 25, 2009 5:59 PM:

" This is not mine, therefore I do not want to take credit for it. However, I wish I had come up with it.

I will credit where credit is due:

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

THIS IS SO INCREDIBLY WELL PUT AND I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT'S BY A YOUNG PERSON, A STUDENT!!! WHATEVER HE RUNS FOR, I'LL VOTE FOR HIM.

American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists
and Obama supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course.
Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a model separation agreement:

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure
our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can
effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns
and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military.

You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them).

We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot
Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood ..

You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us.. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are
under assault, we'll help provide them security..

We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values.. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N.. but we will no longer be paying the bill.

We'll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find..

You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a
right. We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.

We'll practice trickledown economics and you can give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag..

Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other likeminded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you Answer which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.

Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P.S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Barbara Streisand, &
Jane Fonda with you.

P. S. S. And we won't have to press 1 for English. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 25, 2009 6:44 PM:

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 25, 2009 6:49 PM:

" I will credit where credit is due:

Why start now, seedy? "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 25, 2009 6:56 PM:

" ...it always seems to get your posts put into the paper. "

WOW! THIS POST IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SEEING IN PRINT TOMORROW!

It would be nice IF YOU TOLD THE TRUTH JUST ONCE...oh but if you do that they won't put your lies into print...

I see Old broken record Neo continues his whine about not getting his posts in the paper. lol! "

blackhawk wrote on Oct 25, 2009 7:40 PM:

" You are clueless! We fight over there to keep from fighting here! There are still people who hate us and will kill us if we do not stay on the offensive. I say lets WIN the wars, then tackle health care. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 26, 2009 12:11 AM:

" " Harry quick question. Why do you and others have this need to lump anyone who believes different then you as extreme right? I believe you to be to the left, but not one of those that are so far left that you believe your guy is always right. Those on the extreme are not going to ever listen to reason, or believe the facts even if you had pictures, video, and person handwritten affidavits. Look at those that are still screaming about Obama's birth certificate, and that Bush wanted people to die in New Orleans. Don't lump all those on the right with those that are far right. "

I can't answer or anyone but myself, jr. I was addressing that to someone who seems to fit in that category. I say that from having read his posts for quite a while. I would also not that many of the right side are guilty of the same thing. For the record, I have never put you in that category. As a matter of fact you and I have agreed on several issues, and will probably do so in the future, even though we obviously disagree in some areas. If I would get the same degree of respect from my distractors that you have always shown me, I would respond in kind. But I don't, so I don't even try anymore. I'm not trying to convert anyone to my view but am merely saying what I think. You're certainly right in that there are degrees of extremism on both the left and the right in the political spectrum. I've never considered my self a far left liberal, certainly I lean to the left, but as you know there are some on the right that see me as that. I would agree that civility, from both sides, on this site would be nice, but I gave up on that a long time ago. No, I don't think Obama has been perfect and he has made his share of mistakes, but in general, I agree with what he's trying to do to make this a better country for all of us. If the majority of the country doesn't agree with him, they will respond in 2012. I hope this answers your question. "

Poor Harry!! Everybody's always picking on him!!! "

shumphreys wrote on Oct 26, 2009 8:03 AM:

" Blackhawk you are clueless. You think it is okay to destroy another country and murder their citizens so we don't destroy and murder our own? The only way to "WIN" in Afghanistan would be to level the country, literally, flatten every mountain, fill every valley, wipe out every village and structure. AND if you have any knowledge of geography you would realize that is impossible. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 26, 2009 8:44 AM:

" " On Wikipedia, you will find attempts to distort the U.S. budget picture of how your income taxes are spent by including trust funds (Social Security, which is funded by payroll taxes) and by counting the expenses created by past military spending as nonmilitary spending, instead of what it really is: military spending. The true budget figure for FY 2009 is 54 percent, or $1,449 billion, spent on the military. "
------------------------

yeah... well... ya meathead...whatever...concerning that gobbledygook-gook is ya just posted...

No go look at

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/USbudget/fy09/browse.html

and then tell me where it's different...Please note the line on the URL that says...

"GPO has signed and certified the PDF files in the table below to assure users that the online documents are official and authentic."

...and please note on page 25 of the Fiscal Year document ...

"In 1962, mandatory spending accounted for 26 percent of all Government spending.
By 2007 that percentage had more than doubled, reaching 53 percent."

here some more interesting info...

'In 1970, spending on the Governments three largest entitlement programsMedicare, Medicaid, and Social Securitywas equal to 3.8 percent of GDP. This figure has more than doubled,
reaching 8.4 percent today. If health care costs continue to outpace inflation, 75 years from now spending on these three programs is projected to be 19 percent of GDP. This means that in 2080 these three programs alone could account for about as much spending, expressed as a percentage of
GDP, as total Government spending does today.'

AND FILL YOU DON'T LIKE THIS ONE... HOW ABOUT THE ACTUAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL:

Be sure to hit the 'Next' button on the left side to scroll through it. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 26, 2009 8:47 AM:

" Thanks TQ, I always wondered where Neo got his education, now I know, Wikipedia University. "

---------

yeah Wikipedia...and I cherish the fact that my education WASN'T FROM YOU... "

even steven wrote on Oct 26, 2009 9:15 AM:

father bob wrote on Oct 26, 2009 9:31 AM:

" blackhawk wrote on Oct 25, 2009 7:40 PM:
" You are clueless! We fight over there to keep from fighting here! There are still people who hate us and will kill us if we do not stay on the offensive. I say lets WIN the wars, then tackle health care. """""

we are fighting a "war" that can't be won. "

The Question wrote on Oct 26, 2009 9:58 AM:

" We were attacked by terrorists AFTER 9-11. Those weapons came from a Pentagon biological warfare lab, so I can understand why the right wingers always so-conveniently "forget" that particular terrorist attack.
We've wasted trillions on the military-industrial complex, and those trillions have paid for WMD USED AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
But we were too busy fretting about Saddam Hussein's nonexistent WMD to stop the real thing coming at us out of the Pentagon. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 26, 2009 11:08 AM:

" Oh... so I'm one of "those right wingers" now? That's hilarious! You obviously have no sense of humor. How sad. I pity you. "

As far as your being a right winger, you know the old saying about if the shoe fits...

And hey, I have a great sense of humor, like most things do, it probaby just goes over your head.

But thanks for your concern. lol! "

The Question wrote on Oct 26, 2009 12:21 PM:

" You're not merely one of those right wingers, Stevey. I think you may be their king. "

The Question wrote on Oct 26, 2009 2:36 PM:

" The U.S. has an estimated 1,000 military bases around the world. I say "estimated" because some of them are kept secret from the American people, who presumably own them (that's a cynical joke, by the way). Do we have to fight "them" all "there," so "they" won't "fight us here?" Or are we just being taken for a very expensive ride by the greed-bag military-industrial complex? "

The Question wrote on Oct 26, 2009 2:37 PM:

" we are fighting a "war" that can't be won.
----
The kind the Pentagon and the corporations whose snouts are in the trough with them just love, FB. "

devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 26, 2009 2:46 PM:

" Yes during the Regan era our country was supplying the Middle East with weapons remember the Iran-Contra Scandal anyone?? But one thing that I will say is this: Everyone complains about the amount of money that is spent on the military, but the second we do not have the protection of the military we will be at the mercy of anyone that wants to attack us and then those who complain about military spending will be complaing that we have no military protection. The men and women who serve in the military provide a service that is extremely valuable. Those tanks, protecitve gear, bullets n rifles don't come cheap folks. Also the salary, housing allowences and health care for the military personal and their families comes out of a portion of "military spending" at least I think it does. I feel that anyone in the military past or present and their families should get all we have to give to them. They are risking their lives so that all of us can enjoy the freedoms that we have including the right to complain when we don't like our goverment. In other countries they kill you for that. A huge huge thank you thank you thank you to all our military personal past and present. You all keep up the good work you do, and I will keep you all in my prayers. God Bless you and your families. "

shumphreys wrote on Oct 26, 2009 3:38 PM:

" Devilsangel I and I think some of the others would agree that if we send our military into fight somewhere they should be well prepared and well equipped (which Bush didn't do by the way). Unfortunately this country needs some level of military spending. BUT I personally would rather not send ANYONE into war. AND spending money on unwinnable wars is a waste of lives and equipment and money. "

even steven wrote on Oct 26, 2009 3:59 PM:

" Medicare expenditures (% GDP) in 2008: 3.2%.

Projected for 2035: 7.3%.

Projected in 75 years: 11.4%.

Source: Office of the Actuary for Medicare.

Total Defense expenditures (% GDP) for the years 2004-2007: 4.0%. "

father bob wrote on Oct 26, 2009 4:01 PM:

" The Question wrote on Oct 26, 2009 2:37 PM:
" we are fighting a "war" that can't be won.
----
The kind the Pentagon and the corporations whose snouts are in the trough with them just love, FB. """""

yep....it took 57,000 dead soldiers to get people mad enough to shake washington. we can only hope history doesn't have to be repeated. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 26, 2009 4:09 PM:

" Here's a good quote on the state of today's GOP:

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush had some critical words for Republicans in a recent speech, saying the GOP needed to become more than the old white guy party and the party of no.

Finally a Republican speaks the truth. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 26, 2009 4:17 PM:

" Another conservative speaks out:

Conservative George Will To VP Dick Cheney: You Should Have Dithered Before Invading Iraq 10/25/09

Dissension in the ranks? Or just another example of a party in meltdown?

And just like he did just before the last election, gasbag Limbaugh is talking about a party meltdown. There's a meltdown alright, but it seems to be the in the GOP. Look at the gubernatorial race in Texas for another example. The members of the GOP are breaking Reagan's eleventh commandment on a daily basis now. They're eating their own now. It doesn't get any better than this.

Will it be Sarah Palin to the rescue? "

The Question wrote on Oct 26, 2009 5:30 PM:

" So far, the cost of America's invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan is $900,000,000,000. Add in future veterans' benefits, the staggering interest on the national debt created by this military spending with borrowed money and the fact that that money could have gone to productive uses that helped U.S. citizens, and Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard University budget expert Linda Bilmes calculate the U.S. government government has wasted $3,000,000,000,000 (three thousand billion dollars) on two wars that really benefit only the corporate pigs feeding at the military-industrial complex trough. "

devilishangel61401 wrote on Oct 26, 2009 5:43 PM:

" shumphreys wrote on Oct 26, 2009 3:38 PM:

" Devilsangel I and I think some of the others would agree that if we send our military into fight somewhere they should be well prepared and well equipped (which Bush didn't do by the way). Unfortunately this country needs some level of military spending. BUT I personally would rather not send ANYONE into war. AND spending money on unwinnable wars is a waste of lives and equipment and money. "

I do agree with you about this. I too don't think Bush sent any of our troops into battle well prepared. My financee is military as are a few freinds of mine, I too wish we didn't have to send anyone into war but sometimes we don't have a choice. I am unsure though when our goverment should declare a war "unwinable" I have read countless things about Vietnam and I know there came a point that our goverment said "enough already" but not having served in the armed forces I don't know what criteria is used to decide when we have done all we can. If there are any past or present military personal out there that can help out on this I would welcome reading it thanks. "

Locke wrote on Oct 26, 2009 8:39 PM:

" "Right Ellen we should just stop resisting Islam and just let them take us over. I don't think they will care to much about your health. And they do plan to take us over."

What's the difference between Islam trying to take over the country and fundamentalist Christians? About 500 years. The Muslim terrorists have a 11th century mentality; the Christian zealots have a 16th century mentality. Sorry, but I want to live in the 21st century. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 26, 2009 9:02 PM:

" I am glad I am not in the military at this time under this know nothing idiot who can't make up his mind whether he wants to make love to the terrorists or fight them!!!
__________________
There are those who will find a way to be offended regardless what anyone does to appease them, it's a way of life for some. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 26, 2009 10:08 PM:

" What's the difference between Islam trying to take over the country and fundamentalist Christians? About 500 years. The Muslim terrorists have a 11th century mentality; the Christian zealots have a 16th century mentality. Sorry, but I want to live in the 21st century. "
-----------

What a candy arse comment.... "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 26, 2009 10:15 PM:

" First you decide that the doctor can have so many patients. They are equally divided among the various doctors by the government. But then doctors arent equally divided geographically. So a doctor decides he wants to practice in one town and the government has to say to him, you can't live in that town. They already have enough doctors. You have to go someplace else. And from here it's only a short step to dictating where he will go. . . . All of us can see what happens once you establish the precedent that the government can determine a man's working place and his working methods, determine his employment. From here it's a short step to all the rest of socialism, to determining his pay. And pretty soon your son won't decide, when he's in school, where he will go or what he will do for a living. He will wait for the government to tell him where he will go to work and what he will do. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 26, 2009 10:29 PM:

" '...and someday when the time comes to deliver the final ultimatum, our surrender will be voluntary, because by that time we will have been weakened from within spiritually, morally, and economically.'

-Ronald Reagan "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 27, 2009 6:40 AM:

" " '...and someday when the time comes to deliver the final ultimatum, our surrender will be voluntary, because by that time we will have been weakened from within spiritually, morally, and economically.'

-Ronald Reagan "

Fox news, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Michelle Bachman, Newt Gingrich, Michael Steele.....

Yup, I would say he described the state of todays Republican party perfectly, Neo. "

The Question wrote on Oct 27, 2009 7:22 AM:

" In his meetings with his subordinates in the Pentagon, Obama is insisting on knowing what are the achievable goals and what are the actual abilities of U.S. troops and the Afghan government to achieve those goals.
That's what Dick Cheney, the torturing, war-profiteering warmonger who sank America into two military quagmires, calls "dithering." "

shumphreys wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:28 AM:

" Devilsangel you hit the nail on the head, the problem is NO ONE knows when it is time to say enough is enough, which is why the President is "dithering". You ask military men and they see the problem in one way and will never admit (although some it seems are) that there are not military solutions (guns, bombs) for ALL the worlds problems. "

shumphreys wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:41 AM:

" Locke I liked your post about the difference between Islamic and Christian extremeists, 500 years, and 11th and 16th century mentalities. Far too many posters here are stuck in a 19th century mentality. "

even steven wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:42 AM:

" MSNBC, Chris Matthews, Van Jones, Barny Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Janeane Garfolo, William Ayers, "Revernd" Wright...

Yep... that sums up the Democratic Party pretty well. "

father bob wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:59 AM:

" The Question wrote on Oct 26, 2009 5:30 PM:
" So far, the cost of America's invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan is $900,000,000,000."""""

hard to tell what was spent on private contractors or what was stolen by them in Iraq.....

A/K/A "the texas cheerleader massacre" "

father bob wrote on Oct 27, 2009 9:14 AM:

" The Question wrote on Oct 27, 2009 7:22 AM:
" In his meetings with his subordinates in the Pentagon, Obama is insisting on knowing what are the achievable goals and what are the actual abilities of U.S. troops and the Afghan government to achieve those goals.
That's what Dick Cheney, the torturing, war-profiteering warmonger who sank America into two military quagmires, calls "dithering." """""

you mean the yellow coward who hid behind 4 college deferments? and finally knocked up his girlfriend in order to get a "family" status just to put him further down the list?....that cowardly spineless dick cheney? "

father bob wrote on Oct 27, 2009 10:50 AM:

" even steven wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:42 AM:
" MSNBC, Chris Matthews, Van Jones, Barny Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Janeane Garfolo, William Ayers, "Revernd" Wright...""""

great american patriots....each and every one. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 27, 2009 11:53 AM:

" MSNBC, Chris Matthews, Van Jones, Barny Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Janeane Garfolo, William Ayers, "Revernd" Wright...

Yep... that sums up the Democratic Party pretty well. "

Your ability to be original is quite impressive, even. Nice spelling too. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 27, 2009 12:33 PM:

" you mean the yellow coward who hid behind 4 college deferments? and finally knocked up his girlfriend in order to get a "family" status just to put him further down the list?....that cowardly spineless dick cheney? "

And hey fb, perhaps he really planned to join up but was too busy dithering. "

The Question wrote on Oct 27, 2009 12:53 PM:

" you mean the yellow coward who hid behind 4 college deferments? and finally knocked up his girlfriend in order to get a "family" status just to put him further down the list?....that cowardly spineless dick cheney?
---
Yes, that's the very one I mean, Father Bob. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:01 PM:

" Nero fiddled while Rome burned due to his actions, Obambi fiddles while Afghanistan is lost due to his inaction, and the idiots in the Dim party play in the backup band to support him. What a bunch of pantywaists!! "

Bernie wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:05 PM:

" Iraq did pass a constitutional guarantee of health care for all of its citizens. Bush did not support it, rather had no choice but to go along since the Iraqi people demanded it. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:11 PM:

" As American citizens we do have certain rights and one of these rights is free speech and I will use this right to protest what this administration is doing to destroy our country.
And I will continue to protest against the abhorant lifestyles of those that go against Biblical values. I will NOT recognize their lifestyle as being anything other than what it is, unnatural and wrong. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:17 PM:

" George W. Bush will be the last great American President.

Say what you want about him but he had principles and he did not waiver from them in order to appease anybody. He was Presidential. I don't think anybody could say that about Obama, at least not with a straight face!!!! Bongo should quit hiding under the bed!!! "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:23 PM:

" Reading the words of GWB makes me sad that he is no longer our President, even if I did not agree with him not closing our borders and a few other things, but what we have now in the White House makes me so ill, and especially the wishy washy attitude of Obama's indecision on sending more troops to Afghanistan while he plays golf, works the democratic fund raisers and leaves our young soldiers to die. He is the real embarrassment of our country. "

The Question wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:40 PM:

" Here's a brief recap of Bush's greatness for you, Seedy.
He managed to lie the nation into a failed multi-trillion-dollar war; create a Grand Canyon of wealth inequality; fly billions of dollars in bundles of fresh hundred-dollar bills shrink-wrapped on pallets to Iraq so it could all "disappear" with no attempt at accounting; ignore vast numbers of Americans without health care; prance around in a ridiculous costume on the deck of an aircraft carrier declaring himself a victor in a failed war; watch the collapse of the national infrastructure; let a major city drown; spy on vast numbers of Americans; give away hundreds of billions in no-bid contracts to buddies who electrocute U.S. troops with their shoddy work; destroy the ancient legal civil liberty of habeas corpus; inform the Amish that God "speaks though" him; institute the use of torture as official policy; "deregulate" himself into the biggest global financial crisis in at least 80 years; demand that Congress fork over a trillion to his banking pals or risk martial law within days; cause the irreversible decline of America's world reputation and actually consider, with his vice president, ordering the U.S. military invasion of Buffalo, NY; failed to capture the masterminds who planned and executed the TWO terrorist attacks in the United States that he permitted to happen on his watch; and let his little pals at Enron create rolling blackouts in California before the whole corporation flamed out in massive financial fraud. Non-regulation of profitable fraud is one of Bush's most cherished "principles." "
And that's just a partial list, of course. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:52 PM:

" Politico

President Barack Obamas claims of broad executive authority to carry out the war on terror are drawing fire from an unexpected source: federal judges nominated by President George W. Bush, who asserted the sweeping powers in the first place.

In recent weeks, three different Bush appointees considering cases relating to war-on-terror detainees have rejected arguments from Obamas Justice Department, which adopted virtually unchanged the positions the Bush administration had staked out.

In each case, the Bush-appointed judge said the executive branch was overstepping its authority and claiming more powers than the law allowed. "

father bob wrote on Oct 27, 2009 4:43 PM:

" Bernie wrote on Oct 27, 2009 3:05 PM:
" Iraq did pass a constitutional guarantee of health care for all of its citizens. Bush did not support it, rather had no choice but to go along since the Iraqi people demanded it. """""

yeah...bush's idea of healthcare was to help them to a swift death. "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Oct 27, 2009 5:24 PM:

" Susan or one of the liberal lackies called upon the JG-TC to remove my post. What's the matter, the blunt truth hurt?

Oh well, until another day.... "

even steven wrote on Oct 27, 2009 5:57 PM:

" Harry Potter wrote on Oct 27, 2009 11:53 AM:
" MSNBC, Chris Matthews, Van Jones, Barny Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Janeane Garafolo, William Ayers, "Reverend" Wright...

Yep... that sums up the Democratic Party pretty well. "

Your ability to be original is quite impressive, even. Nice spelling too. "

Thanks for catching my typos. I fixed them so you wouldn't lose any sleep obsessing over them. Nice job! "

The Question wrote on Oct 27, 2009 6:19 PM:

" You lied about what Susan said, Rotty. I always say you right wingers are liars these days. Thanks for proving it. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 7:49 PM:

" Rockin Rotty wrote on Oct 27, 2009 5:24 PM:

" Susan or one of the liberal lackies called upon the JG-TC to remove my post. What's the matter, the blunt truth hurt?

Oh well, until another day.... "

They can't take the heat!!! come on 2010, then 2012 "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 27, 2009 7:56 PM:

" " You lied about what Susan said, Rotty. I always say you right wingers are liars these days. Thanks for proving it.
------------------------

Los mayores mentirosos que son liberales, The Question.

Por supuesto, espero que este post no se pone censurado porque est en un idioma extranjero. Eso sera discriminacin, ya que no permitir que mi mensaje?

Dado que no veo donde se dice que no pueden escribir en un idioma extranjero, es posible que desee considerar la posibilidad de contratar a un traductor. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 27, 2009 7:58 PM:

" " Susan or one of the liberal lackies called upon the JG-TC to remove my post. What's the matter, the blunt truth hurt?

Oh well, until another day.... "

They can't take the heat!!! come on 2010, then 2012
------------------
Est bien cedric66. Algunos de nosotros sabemos cmo funciona todo esto en beneficio de los liberales. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:02 PM:

" President Bush recently spent his 879th day at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, since the Supreme Court, in all its great wisdom, elevated him to the presidency. This according to NPR's "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me," which noted that Bush broke former President Reagan's record for taking vacations from the White House
CBS-

Oh yeah seedy, let's talk about Obama's golf game. "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 27, 2009 8:07 PM:

" " Here's a brief recap of Bush's greatness for you, Seedy.
He managed to lie the nation into a failed multi-trillion-dollar war; create a Grand Canyon of wealth inequality; fly billions of dollars in bundles of fresh hundred-dollar bills shrink-wrapped on pallets to Iraq so it could all "disappear" with no attempt at accounting; ignore vast numbers of Americans without health care; prance around in a ridiculous costume on the deck of an aircraft carrier declaring himself a victor in a failed war; watch the collapse of the national infrastructure; let a major city drown; spy on vast numbers of Americans; give away hundreds of billions in no-bid contracts to buddies who electrocute U.S. troops with their shoddy work; destroy the ancient legal civil liberty of habeas corpus; inform the Amish that God "speaks though" him; institute the use of torture as official policy; "deregulate" himself into the biggest global financial crisis in at least 80 years; demand that Congress fork over a trillion to his banking pals or risk martial law within days; cause the irreversible decline of America's world reputation and actually consider, with his vice president, ordering the U.S. military invasion of Buffalo, NY; failed to capture the masterminds who planned and executed the TWO terrorist attacks in the United States that he permitted to happen on his watch; and let his little pals at Enron create rolling blackouts in California before the whole corporation flamed out in massive financial fraud. Non-regulation of profitable fraud is one of Bush's most cherished "principles." "
And that's just a partial list, of course. "

That must be some pretty potent stuff that you are smokin' TQ. You better watch out and don't OD on us! Look out for the death panels!!!! "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Oct 27, 2009 9:09 PM:

" I never lied at all, TQ. I boiled it down, (nuts & bolts), & wrote exactly what she was spewing.

Don't hate the player, hate the game - your side does it as well, all the time my friend.

The truth isn't so nice, when comes back & bites you in the arse. "

jrhendren wrote on Oct 27, 2009 11:59 PM:

" Is it just me or is arguing with the extreme left no fun anymore? If they could get some new talking points it would be nice. They just keep on with things like pentagon weapons, leaving out they were made under Clinton, WMD's but leave out the Clinton administration believed the same as well as other nations. They use that Bush lied, but leave out that he had to trick Congress on more then one occasion, and several other nations. They try Hussain wasn't involved, except for the training camps he had. Then if that doesn't work comes the name calling. Come on get some new material the old stuff has been proven wrong already. Oh wait I forgot Bush can make hurricanes, but they don't want to mention the democrat mayor, or Governor, or how FEMA actually works. "

The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 5:53 AM:

" You directly attributed A FAKE QUOTE to Susan under her name, Rotty. That makes you a LIAR. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 6:32 AM:

" That must be some pretty potent stuff that you are smokin' TQ. You better watch out and don't OD on us! Look out for the death panels!!!! "

Translation: I can't refute a single one of your points so I'll resort to one of my lame standby inane remarks. "

shumphreys wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:00 AM:

" If the moderator didn't think you lied RockinRotty they wouldn't have removed your post. The simple fact is you can't claim to be quoting someone when it isn't something they said. Now who is it that can't face the TRUTH? "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:40 AM:

" " Susan or one of the liberal lackeys called upon the JG-TC to remove my post. What's the matter, the blunt truth hurt?

I could be wrong, but I believe the only thing they ever remove are those posts that violate the (spelled out) rules, seedy. Try playing the game by the rules and you won't have a problem. Note that I corrected you spelling for you. No thanks are necessary, happy to help you out. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:46 AM:

" Sorry about that RR. I jumped to conclusions when I noticed the spelling error. Not used to seeing you do that, but seedy does it on a regular basis. lol! "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 9:25 AM:

" Is it just me or is arguing with the extreme left no fun anymore? If they could get some new talking points it would be nice.

I think one could make the same argument for the comments of those on the right, jr.

And you were right to use the word argue, because that's what is occurring on this sight is not debating, but is merely arguing. It comes from those on the right as well as those on the left. I include myself it this assessment. But I have to disagree that it's not fun anymore. To the contrary, I find it quite amusing at times. "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Oct 28, 2009 9:46 AM:

" jrhendren wrote on Oct 27, 2009 11:59 PM:

"Is it just me or is arguing with the extreme left no fun anymore? If they could get some new talking points it would be nice."

.......

It's not you, &, AMEN!

.......

The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 5:53 AM:

"You directly attributed A FAKE QUOTE to Susan under her name, Rotty."

.......

Fake, I think not.... When you boiled it down, soup to nuts, it was EXACTLY what she was stating.

.......

shumphreys wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:00 AM:

"If the moderator didn't think you lied RockinRotty they wouldn't have removed your post."

.......

If the Moderator thought I lied, it would NOT have got posted in the FIRST PLACE - but it WAS posted, & it took one of YOU to have it removed.

.......

shumphreys wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:00 AM:

"The simple fact is you can't claim to be quoting someone when it isn't something they said."

.......

If you boiled it down, it was EXACTLY what YOU were spewing.

Now who is it that can't face the TRUTH?

.......

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:40 AM:

"Susan or one of the liberal lackeys called upon the JG-TC to remove my post. What's the matter, the blunt truth hurt?"

.......

HP, my friend, the post was mine, not cedric's.

.......

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:40 AM:

"Note that I corrected (your) spelling for you. No thanks are necessary, happy to help you out."

.......

I returned the favor, my friend. Thanks for the assist. Have a good day!
LOL! :-P

.......

Wow, now THIS is fun!
ROTFLMAO!! "

even steven wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:35 AM:

" Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:40 AM:

" " Susan or one of the liberal lackeys called upon the JG-TC to remove my post. What's the matter, the blunt truth hurt?

I could be wrong, but I believe the only thing they ever remove are those posts that violate the (spelled out) rules, seedy. Try playing the game by the rules and you won't have a problem. Note that I corrected you spelling for you. No thanks are necessary, happy to help you out. "

Nice grammar! Bahahaha... Don't you just hate it when you're trying to be condescending and smug while correcting someone else's spelling and you make a typo or grammatical error?

You're hilarious. I doubt it's intentional, but it's really funny all the same. You zany little leftists crack me up. "

The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:37 AM:

" You're a liar, Rotty. Squirm away. You make up fake quotes and post them under people's names, even adding a real time and date for when the person DIDN'T say what you claimed. That is contemptible dishonesty. "

The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:40 AM:

" By the way, Rotty, because Susan's identity is publicly known here, when you defamed her by attributing a nasty fake quotation to her, you also libeled her. "

shumphreys wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:43 AM:

" What you boiled down Rotty is what you spew not what I spew. I don't spew, I put forth intelligent thoughtful comments backed by fact that you can't refute. I just can't help being a better person than you! Actually most folks can't help but be better persons than you! "

father bob wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:48 AM:

" Rockin Rotty wrote on Oct 28, 2009 9:46 AM:
"If the Moderator thought I lied, it would NOT have got posted in the FIRST PLACE - but it WAS posted, & it took one of YOU to have it removed."""""

OK FESS UP!!....and could you please share the phone number, i have a bit of housecleaning to suggest!!....LMAO!!! "

Bernie wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:57 AM:

" Millions of innocent people are now dead, disabled and bankrupted because George Bush was appointed president.

Jesus must be holding his head in shame.

Bush took lots of time off after his daddy let him climb over other more deserving souls and jump to the front of the line in order to get junior into in the National Guard, too. "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 11:21 AM:

" Good catch, RR. But now you have gone and spoiled my delusions about being perfect. lol! "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 1:04 PM:

" When it comes to the president, the radical right wingers just can't be pleased. Last week I saw one on them on Fox news demanding that the Obama children be vaccinated before a camera to prove that the president thought the vaccine was safe. After learning that the children were vaccinated, they are now screaming preferential treatment, even though it was made public that the family applied for the shots like everyone else did. In addition it was announced that the president and the first lady were going to wait until all high risk people received their shots.

Two weeks ago Limbaugh was whining about the Obama children's puppy taking a dump on air force one, this week it's the president's concern for the safety of his children. Hilarious! And that comes from the man that many view as the chief spokesperson for the new Republican party. "

The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 1:08 PM:

" Seventy-one percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday morning believe Sarah Palin is unqualified to be president, with 29 percent saying she does have the credentials to serve in the White House.
So run the Quitter Queen of the Numbskull Tundra for president, Republicans. Pretty please? She's had spells cast on her to protect her against witchcraft, and that's a big plus to you people, right? Who needs brains, anyway? Let morons reign! "

The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 2:59 PM:

" The U.S. has been warned that its use of drones to target suspected terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan may violate international law.
UN human rights investigator Philip Alston said the U.S. should explain the legal basis for attacking individuals with the remote-controlled aircraft.
He said the CIA had to show accountability to international laws which ban arbitrary executions.
Drones have killed about 600 people in northwest Pakistan since August 2008.
What? You mean blowing innocent people to bits by remote control might be wrong? "

Bps wrote on Oct 28, 2009 6:05 PM:

" The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 1:08 PM:
Let morons reign! "
-----------
They already do and have for a very l o n g time.

Throw one group out and the new group proves itself to be worse than the previous clowns in charge.

Oh, the methods vary and those that get the benefits of their stupidly are different, but the sum of their actions is the same. The average person gets raped and our freedoms are eroded a little bit more.

The current group of super achievers in stupidity has escalated that to such a new high in just nine months, who knows how bad we will end up this cycle. "

The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 6:05 PM:

" More confirmation that the CIA has been lying to Congress.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), who has been helping lead a House Intelligence committee probe into the CI''s process for briefing lawmakers, says Republicans who criticized Nancy Pelosi's claim that the CIA lied to her now owe the speaker an apology.
She said the agency had misled or outright lied to Congress five times since 2001. One of those cases, Schakowsky confirmed, concerned the 2002 torture briefing at which, Pelosi has claimed, she was lied to about waterboarding. Republicans, led by Minority Leader John Boehner, had savaged her for that charge. "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Oct 28, 2009 8:48 PM:

" The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:37 AM:

"You're a liar, Rotty. Squirm away."
.......
Again I say.... Don't hate the player, hate the game. You, TQ, do it several times a day, everyday, 365 days a year.

Am I not allowed to play along, once or twice, or are you taking the ball & running home?
.......
The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:37 AM:

"You make up fake quotes"
.......
Nothing made up at all, it was exactly what she said. I just didn't twist & sugar-coat it, like she does so well. Now if you want to see someone who makes up shtuff, besides her, take a look in the mirror.
.......
The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:37 AM:

"That is contemptible dishonesty"
.......
No, I call it reality, & the truth coming back & biting you on the arse.
.......
The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:40 AM:

"when you defamed her"
.......
I did no such thing. She defames herself, everytime she posts or writes letters. Nobody does it to her, she can take care of that, all by herself.
.......
The Question wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:40 AM:

"you also libeled her."
.......
JG-TC Comment policy:
No comment may contain:
* Potentially libelous statements;

Again I say, it GOT posted, it MET THEIR requirements, at the time, & it took one of YOU to have it removed.

So, I DID NOT libel her at all - that's only what you came up with, in your far left liberal fantasy loon land.
.......
shumphreys wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:43 AM:

"I don't spew, I put forth intelligent thoughtful comments backed by fact that you can't refute. I just can't help being a better person than you! Actually most folks can't help but be better persons than you!"
.......
Has lightening hit this dizzy broad yet?

Shemp, alot of folks have placed plenty of facts towards your fiction, & you're just too dumb to see it or to have a clue about it.

You & most folks are better than me?

Now, that's just judgeMENTAL & from your own far left liberal fantasy looney mind. Now, wouldn't you rather just tell everyone the truth; how you just love the way Rotty tickles your ivory (towers)? Go ahead sweetie, you know you got a woodrow for me.
LOL!
.......
father bob wrote on Oct 28, 2009 10:48 AM:

"OK FESS UP!!....and could you please share the phone number, i have a bit of housecleaning to suggest!!....LMAO!!!"
.......
OK, FB, just to show what a great guy I am, I'm going to make it plain & simple, so you'll understand it perfectly.
1-800-BR549, then press #2.
You'll be on your way to a hat dance in no time.
LOL!
.......
Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 11:21 AM:

"Good catch, RR. But now you have gone and spoiled my delusions about being perfect. lol!"
.......
LOL @ HP!
Ditto, my friend. Winter is coming on, we'll just blame it on the lousy weather.
LOL!
.......
After this point & time, I'm still holding onto my original thoughts, & you folks are welcome to do the same with yours.

I'm now agreeing to disagree, & you're not changing my mind, & I'm not changing yours. "

jrhendren wrote on Oct 28, 2009 11:57 PM:

" Harry Potter wrote on Oct 28, 2009 9:25 AM:
" Is it just me or is arguing with the extreme left no fun anymore? If they could get some new talking points it would be nice.

I think one could make the same argument for the comments of those on the right, jr.

And you were right to use the word argue, because that's what is occurring on this sight is not debating, but is merely arguing. It comes from those on the right as well as those on the left. I include myself it this assessment. But I have to disagree that it's not fun anymore. To the contrary, I find it quite amusing at times. "

I agree it does come from both sides. It is somewhat amusing, but just not as fun as it used to be. The same remarks, the same unneeded name calling. We tell our kids they need to respect others, then disrespect others because we don't agree with their political view. "Bible-thumpers, liars, ring-wing nuts, leftist Marxist, and all the others." Makes you wonder if the children shouldn't be teaching the so called adults? "

cedric66 wrote on Oct 29, 2009 12:11 AM:

" Joe Lieberman, the champion of the media when he played footsie with the Democrats, is now a pariah and is being viciously skewered. Why you'd think he didn't know all the words to the 'Barack Hussein Obama, MMM MMM MMM' song. "

The Question wrote on Oct 29, 2009 5:40 AM:

" You chose your nom de guerre appropriately, Rotty. Putting fake quotes in the mouths of your opponents is certainly rotten. "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Oct 29, 2009 9:31 AM:

" Thanks for the compliment on my nom de guerre, TQ. I'm sure we'll get "rockin" again, somewhere in the future. "

Airy Dite wrote on Oct 29, 2009 9:59 AM:

" Neo Con...por favor haganos el favor de ecribir en ingles!!!! Sin los signos diacriticos es imposible leer sus mensajes con exactitud. "

Becky wrote on Oct 29, 2009 10:35 AM:

" All of you keep talking about higher taxes because of universal health care. We already pay a huge "tax" on health care by the way of premiums, deductables, and paying for the uninsured with higher medical bills. The average family pays $12,000 to $14,000 A YEAR for health coverage. To families that make less that's close to HALF of their income. It's unsustainable and forcing people to give up their income or face fines and jail time is what???.....oh yeah...A TAX!!!!

A tax by any other name still smells rotten. Oh, and by the way, providing health care to all is not just catering to the poor, the homeless, the unemployed. It also cares for the middle income, higher income and even the rich. I don't think many of you have any idea the devastating results of high medical costs to thousands of families every year. Half of all bankruptcies are due to medical bills and most of those people HAD MEDICAL INSURANCE!!! "

Traveling Circus wrote on Oct 29, 2009 4:40 PM:

" Joe Leiberman is (like many in government) an attention hound, and not at all an honorable man. Why, he SUPPORTED a public option for 10 YEARS, and now has joined the "party of NO?".

CT (yea, that's the state Liberman hails from ) supports a public option by 65%...but he still opposes it? There must be a special kinda place for lying former-Dems to go... "

father bob wrote on Oct 29, 2009 5:26 PM:

" Traveling Circus wrote on Oct 29, 2009 4:40 PM:
"CT (yea, that's the state Liberman hails from ) supports a public option by 65%...but he still opposes it? There must be a special kinda place for lying former-Dems to go... """""

it's called loyalty to Aetna a CT company who lined his pockets, not the little people who actually elected him. "

Traveling Circus wrote on Oct 29, 2009 10:01 PM:

" Yup Father Bob, that's exactly what I was going to say! What a sad man - who may ruin the future of this country because he wants to line his pockets. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Oct 29, 2009 10:51 PM:

" Neo Con...por favor haganos el favor de ecribir en ingles!!!! Sin los signos diacriticos es imposible leer sus mensajes con exactitud.
-------------------

YEAH, I know Airy...Perdname por favor. No ms por escrito en espaol.

I could put them in the text in Word but they didn't cut and paste into the blog.

I was just conducting a little experiment...wanted to see what I could get past the censor!

!El diablo me oblig a hacerlo! "

Harry Potter wrote on Oct 30, 2009 8:23 AM:

" Are there really death panels in the proposed reform efforts by the Democrats? In a word, no. What Sarah Palin and other no nothings call death panels are merely provisions to reimburse doctors for life end counseling sessions with their patients. To equate explaining an elderly patients options to killing granny is ludacris. The real death panels are those of the insurance companies who deny coverage for those they feel won't be profitable. "

father bob wrote on Oct 30, 2009 3:31 PM:

" finally......

President Obama said today his administration is lifting a 22-year-old ban that prevented persons with HIV/AIDS from entering the country.

"It's a step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment, it's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives," Obama said, noting that the process of reversing the rule began during the George W. Bush presidency.

The United States was the first country to institute such a ban, "a decision rooted in fear rather than fact," Obama said. Now only a dozen nations continue the practice. "If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it," the president said.

Obama made the announcement as he signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, which provides help to more than half a million Americans.

~CNN~ "

Airy Dite wrote on Oct 30, 2009 4:56 PM:

" Thank you Neo Con. Without a Spanish language keyboard it's too easy to make a big mistake and be really misunderstood. Diacritical marks in written Spanish are critical.

hasta luego. "

nrcdude wrote on Nov 6, 2009 11:55 PM:

" While I agree with in principle that we could do much good if we spent a trillion dollars on something besides war, without a secure nation, we will not be at liberty to choose how we spend it.
It seems to me that one of the biggest problems with our society is greed and laziness. It seems like everyone wants something for nothing. People file lawsuits expecting to get big settlements so they can loaf the rest of their lives. And attourneys look for big settlements so they can take at least 50% for their own pockets. This practice has driven doctors to the practice of defensive medicine which drives up the cost of health care and insurance.
Now we have people in high positions of our government who want to get re-elected to their cushy, high profile offices. (And by the way, they are not going to be subject to the health care regulations they are trying to inflict on the rest of us). So they are willing to promise to provide health care at an "affordable cost" to everyone.
I learned a long time ago that nothing worth while comes without a price. And the price we will pay with a Government run health care system is first, the loss of freedom to make decisions about our health care and second, the unbearable tax burden that will be passed on to our kids and grandkids. We've seen how well the government runs Social Security and VA Hospitals. Are they going to be any better at government controlled health care for the entire nation?
As a professional in the field of Quality I've been trained to look for the root cause of all problems. For the problem of high health care costs, I have to say that the Bible is spot on with the verse that says "Love of money is the root of all evil." Greed is taking our society down a dark path from which it will take generations to recover. It's time we quit expecting the government to provide for us and started being accountable for our own destiny and well being. "

Amber wrote on Nov 10, 2009 2:09 PM:

" Cognitus wrote:" devilsangel:"I am ashamed and embarassed that I have to be on SSI and Medicaid, but I paid into all that stuff when I worked, so I refuse to allow anyone to make me feel guilty..."
No I'm not saying you should feel guilty.
But since we and THE GOVERNMENT seem to be keeping you afloat, I don't think I would curse the government quite so bitterly as you. "
=======================================Good post cognitus!Your post was a good one.I would bet that our government is taking care of cedric66 and no matter what,she will still gripe about something.Sounds like nothing but "greed" coming from her. "

Amber wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:30 PM:

" Whoops!I meant too say "tax payers" taking care of cedric66---not the government.If i'm wrong you may correct me cedric. "

Musicmaker wrote on Nov 10, 2009 6:37 PM:

" excuse me? does anyone ever ask where Mrs Wolcott's statistic comes from?
google "how many people die a year from lack of health care" and you get numbers from 18,000 to 45,000. Excuse me? "