The Republican presidential race appears to have shifted from debating the economy to discussing social issues - same-sex marriage, abortion and, amazingly enough, birth control. The year is 2012 and ...
Mitt Romney believes that his best line of attack is making the claim that he has not spent a moment as a D.C. politician while his two main opponents, Newt ...
No two ways about it, Rick Santorum had a good night. Not only did he sweep Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri but he also got off the best line of the ...
Few would argue the fact that Citizens United has been a major player in the Republican primary...and many if not most would concede that none of it has been healthy ...
As if you needed another reason to not vote Romney.
Celebrity business magnate Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney for president Thursday, telling reporters he will not mount an independent campaign if ...
In a perfect world, the Republican contest to find a nominee to face Barack Obama would go on forever...or at least until August. You cannot attach a number to the ...
I suspect there are a ton of conservatives secretly agreeing with Begala and while it's too early in the game for Dems to get cocky, it's difficult to not smile ...
Quotes don't get much better than this one by Bob Dole.
"Why do people take such an instant dislike to me?" asked a perplexed Gingrich, to whom Dole bluntly ...
After the beating Gingrich took last night, it's hard to imagine under what scenario he can make a comeback. Florida is going to Romney and for Gingrich to regain the ...
There's a lot out there on the President's SOTU, so I'll keep my thoughts short and sweet.
The speech did what it had to do which was target liberals and independents ...
The highlights from last night's debate.
- Newt Gingrich can't wait to become president so he can revisit the early 60s and overthrow Castro in Cuba. War, baby, war.
- Santorum, who ...
It appears that the South Carolina verdict is forcing Romney to start taking Gingrich seriously.
“We’re not choosing a talk show host, we’re choosing a leader,” Romney said, saying that their ...
Mike Huckabee offers advice to Mitt Romney concerning his unreleased tax returns.
Let him [Romney] make this challenge: "I'll release my tax returns when Barack Obama releases his college transcripts and ...
Via Political Humor...
"Mitt Romney is coming under fire because even though he is a multimillionaire, he only paid 15 percent in taxes. That's not a tax, that's barely a tip." ...
Good line.
My guess is that after Romney fails to beat Obama in the general, Huntsman will be back in 2016. The most electable guy in the field and he could ...
I found this pretty funny...and accurate. It comes from a reader over at Balloon Juice.
So, let’s review. The contenders for the GOP nomination are
A vulture capitalist who believes that any ...
Lively little debate going on at one of last week's posts with Libertarianism put under the microscope.
ocLiberal:
I know I am in sketchy territory here, (start the indignant shouting now) but ...
In the contest to determine the winner of the Far-Right Politics gold medal, rack up a few more points for Newt Gingrich.
“I think an intelligent conservative wants the right federal ...
Via Political Humor...
"Congratulations to Mitt Romney. He won the New Hampshire primary last night. See, this is proof that even the multimillionaire son of a multimillionaire can beat the odds ...
No doubt there’s going to be a battle but it is promising to hear many Republican congressmen expressing their view that health care reform is necessary.
___
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I’ve been well aware for a long time now that we needed to do something about fixing healthcare. When 47 million Americans have no health care to speak of and when US corporations are suffering in part due to the high cost of providing healthcare coverage to their employees, we’ve got a problem.
What I did not know was the number of bankruptcies due to the cost of healthcare. One third of all bankruptcies filed in 2006 were due to healthcare costs. Frightening.
While it may be true that most Americans would like to see some form of Health Care Reform, polls reflect the majority of Americans do not want to see our Health Care System nationalized. We do not want Government involved in decisions concerning our Medical Care. Including witholding care because it would not be “Cost Effective”.
Furthermore, polls reflect most Americans think Obama should wait on Health Care Reform until the economy is in better shape.
I’m not being presumptious at all. Just stating facts.
You’re kidding me right cix? OK, let’s dig a little deeper shall we ?
“Factcheck.org took a look at this claim and concluded that there was a bankruptcy declared every 30 seconds last year, but “even a very high estimate, like the Harvard study…would only attribute half of those personal bankruptcies to medical expenses. So that’s one health-related bankruptcy every minute at most.”
So, while the bankruptcy rate is 1 every 30 seconds (which is downright scary) “only” half that rate is attributable to health care costs…
That’s 1 bankruptcy every 60 seconds due to health care costs. That’s still and astronomically scary figure.
What really grabs me though is you’re so busy trying to point out how wrong Obama is in a quote that focusing on the real issue of how really bad health care is in America.
What really grabs me though is you’re so busy trying to point out how wrong Obama is in a quote that focusing on the real issue of how really bad healthcare is in America. -trudeau-ite
Great point. The Obama bashers are going to spend the next 4 years doing exactly what you just described, trudeau. But hey, no surprise coming from people like cix who have said they agree with Limbaugh and hope their president fails.
I wasn’t busy pointing out anything. I was surprised at the number stated and did what any intelligent, thinking person SHOULD do. I checked the accuracy. How does that make me flawed in any way? The accurate numbers make that statement 50% incorrect. Do you not find issue with that?
Yes. I think something should be done to reign in exorbitant medical costs.
No. I do not want Government involved in MY Medical care. I do not want the failed health care systems of Canada, Great Britain and others for my country.
I have never said that. Limbaugh didn’t say that. If you want to be ignorant, that’s your business. Please do not put your ignorant words in my mouth.
Limbaugh has explained himself numerous times. I won’t bother because I recognize that people such as you are too closed minded to ever accept their narrow, biased view of things may ever be wrong. But for you to perpetuate this lie is simply wrong.
You obviously understand little of what constitutes health care on a national level. Health care is not measured on how it handles a single individual but instead on how it deals with the entire population on a number of levels: quality, access, cost, etc.
The last time the World Health Organization measured and rated health care (in 2000) on a global level, the UK ranked as 18th best, Canada at 30 and the US at 37.
If you look at life expectancy, Canada is ranked at 14th highest, the UK at 37th highest and the US ranked in 45th position.
On infant mortality, out of a group of 222 countries, ranked from highest mortality rate to lowest: UK – 194, Canada – 191, US – 180
So Canada and the UK have higher life expectancy rates and lower infant mortality rates and NO ONE in either of those countries will ever go bankrupt because of health care.
WHAT???? You can make the argument access is bad. You can make the argument cost is bad. But how can any reasonably intelligent person advance, defend or support a statement such as that?
I rate it based on whether I, or more importantly, one of my loved ones dies waiting in line for mediocre, at best, health care.
That’s the “reality” I choose to believe.
Of course, it doesn’t matter. Socialized health care is going to be forced down our throats because if for no other reason, it buys these Politicians another 45 million votes.
Look, if it will save you any time or effort, I can research just as you or anyone else can. I understand when you factor in all the peripheral issues such as cost, life expectancy, mortality rates, etc. it affects the overall rating of a Health Care System.
I too, looked at the same 10 year old report you did but didn’t give it a lot of weight because of how old it is. I looked for more recent data, didn’t find it easily and frankly, didn’t want to put more effort in it because I have no desire or inclination to change the screwed up way you think.
To me, the telling “reality” you speak of is people flocking to the US for Health Care in the face of serious illness, REGARDLESS the cost.
So, to quote your own words, “…believe what you want, reality says otherwise.”
If you choose to measure health care only by how it affects yourself and loved ones, that’s fine but you are then in no position to write on the state of health care in the US. Your comments are applicable only to yourself and your circle of acquaintances.
The leader of a country does not have that luxury. As surprising as it might be to you, the president must look beyond the case of ‘cix2012′. I am sure that President Obama has excellent health care insurance and has access to a level of health care that few in the world have. But he’s looking at health care from a national level – on how it affects everyone who calls themselves an American.
Discussing health care on how it affects one or twenty individuals is useless. This is not the issue at hand. I’m sure you can understand this simple fact…but then maybe you can’t. You seem to be of the belief that what is good for you, should be good for the nation. Pretty narrow-minded position, would you not think?
Also, the president has stated numerous times that if one is happy with their current health care plan, then nothing will change except that you’ll be paying lower premiums.
As for the studies I cited in my last comment, the life expectancy and infant mortality ratings are from the last couple of years.
If our Health Care system is Socialized or Nationalized, the quality will be negatively impacted across the board. That is the reality.
Narrow minded or not, what is YOUR position going to be if it is one of your loved ones dying while waiting in line to be approved by the Government to receive care?
Why don’t you just leave it there? While many people may desire a Nationalized Health Care System, many of us do not! Arguments can be made for both sides.
Hopefully, this blossoming abject failure of a leader will be able to strike a responsive position between the two.
:-) :-) WWWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! You called Obama a failure!!!!!!! WWWWAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! :-) :-)
How is fixing a broken healthcare system equivalent to socialized medecine? Millions cannot afford healthcare insurance of any kind and tens of millions of others are faced with skyrocketing premiums. Companies are facing bankruptcies in a large part because of health benefits. The only ones benefiting from the current state of our healthcare system are insurance companies.
It dismays me to hear the same blind nonsense by republicans who cannot see beyond the end of their noses. The system needs fixing and the ailing economy cannot afford to wait any longer while selfish dimwits complain about socialized medecine.
Wow!! Me too!! I hate those dimwits that complain about Socialized “medecine”. Now Socialized “Medicine”?? :-) That’s a different matter.
Once again, the argument is erroneously framed by you guys. It becomes, “Do what WE want or Do nothing” as the choice. (Come on Mr. Moderator! Step in there with that, “Straw Man” thing of yours!)
I don’t see anyone suggesting that something should not be done to make Health Care more accessible and more affordable. I do see many that do not want the Government involved in day to day Health Care decisions.
The issue is “WHAT” to do. Not “do what WE want” opposed to “do NOTHING”.
When your argument begins with making fun of someone over a spelling error, it does say much about the person you are.
Secondly, the only straw man here is the one introduced by you that President Obama is moving towards a socialized or nationalized health care system. He is doing no such thing but I know it sounds real scary when every talking head at Fox News repeats the nonsense over and over. There is no plan to replicate the health care systems of Canada and the UK.
As PolitiFact.com reports: “Obama’s plan leaves in place the private health care system, but seeks to expand it to the uninsured.”
“…the plan is very different from some European-style health systems where the government owns health clinics and employs doctors.”
You can now do your homework and stop spreading lies. But do feel free to mock me for any spelling errors you come across in my writing.
First off. Lighten up. It’s very obvious you take yourself WAY too serious.
If you can’t find ironic humor in someone calling people “blind, non-sensible dimwits” in a message rife with grammatical and spelling errors, then I suggest you step back, take a deep breath and re-evaluate yourself.
The “Straw Man” if you will, is saying that because you do not agree with President Obama’s direction, then you are in favor of doing nothing. I have stated in almost every comment I’ve made regarding this matter that I feel something needs to be done.
You know, in reviewing posts on this blog, it has become apparent that you save your criticisms almost exclusively for those who are not of your ilk and who disagree with you. May I please take the liberty of once again, reminding you of your own mission statement:
“My wish is that this site become a forum for all to express their views regardless of political beliefs in an environment of harmony and respect.”
I submit Sir, respect starts with yourself.
(BTW, I have ignored your grammatical and spelling errors. I just found humor in being called a dimwit in a post containing misspelled words. I may well be a dimwit. But I are a good speller!!)
I’m sorry. I thought I made my thoughts on the subject quite clear.
I would like to see the cost of health care reined in. (See my comment above.) I would like health care to be readily accessible to all. (See my comment above.) I don’t want to see our health care system nationalized or socialized. (See my comment above.) I do not want the Government involved in decisions regarding my health care. (See my comment above.)
If President Obama can accomplish those things without negatively impacting the quality of health care I receive now, I’m all for it. (See my comments above.)
If he can accomplish that AND save me money on my existing health care, then I’m even MORE for it. (See my comments above.)
Perhaps you didn’t see those things because I don’t start my comments with how wonderful Obama and Liberals are and how horrible and stupid all Republicans and Conservatives are. And throw in a few pats on the back for how bright YOU are while I’m at it.
You got to understand Sonny Boy. You get yourself in trouble just assuming.
Nice to see you and Obama on the same page. He too wants the cost of health care reduced as well as have it accessible to all. And like you, he has no desire to have government controlling your medical decisions. (That, of course, is the insurance company’s domain.)
The president also wants to maintain the highest level of health care possible…naturally. And, as I pointed out previously, there is no nationalization of health care in his plan.
So there you go, you and the president agree on health care. Nice.
There. See how well things go when you take off those blinders??
Although I’m not sure we are in total agreement on how to achieve them, he and I share some of the same goals.
(You’ll have to excuse me now. I’m going to have to take some time to contemplate how I justify this with YOUR statement attributed to me that I want the President to fail.)
We don’t want it.
Bankruptcy is much less fatal than being unable to get care or having the government decide you aren’t worth the expense.
Presumptuous of you to think you speak for the entire nation. Most people want healthcare reform so you speak only for yourself.
I’ve been well aware for a long time now that we needed to do something about fixing healthcare. When 47 million Americans have no health care to speak of and when US corporations are suffering in part due to the high cost of providing healthcare coverage to their employees, we’ve got a problem.
What I did not know was the number of bankruptcies due to the cost of healthcare. One third of all bankruptcies filed in 2006 were due to healthcare costs. Frightening.
While it may be true that most Americans would like to see some form of Health Care Reform, polls reflect the majority of Americans do not want to see our Health Care System nationalized. We do not want Government involved in decisions concerning our Medical Care. Including witholding care because it would not be “Cost Effective”.
Furthermore, polls reflect most Americans think Obama should wait on Health Care Reform until the economy is in better shape.
I’m not being presumptious at all. Just stating facts.
“The cost of healthcare causes a bankruptcy every 30 seconds.” – President Barack Obama
I thought this figure sounded a little high. I guess Republicans and Conservatives aren’t the only ones playing loosely with the truth?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/03/false-talking-1.html
You’re kidding me right cix? OK, let’s dig a little deeper shall we ?
“Factcheck.org took a look at this claim and concluded that there was a bankruptcy declared every 30 seconds last year, but “even a very high estimate, like the Harvard study…would only attribute half of those personal bankruptcies to medical expenses. So that’s one health-related bankruptcy every minute at most.”
So, while the bankruptcy rate is 1 every 30 seconds (which is downright scary) “only” half that rate is attributable to health care costs…
That’s 1 bankruptcy every 60 seconds due to health care costs. That’s still and astronomically scary figure.
What really grabs me though is you’re so busy trying to point out how wrong Obama is in a quote that focusing on the real issue of how really bad health care is in America.
Shame on you.
What really grabs me though is you’re so busy trying to point out how wrong Obama is in a quote that focusing on the real issue of how really bad healthcare is in America. -trudeau-ite
Great point. The Obama bashers are going to spend the next 4 years doing exactly what you just described, trudeau. But hey, no surprise coming from people like cix who have said they agree with Limbaugh and hope their president fails.
I wasn’t busy pointing out anything. I was surprised at the number stated and did what any intelligent, thinking person SHOULD do. I checked the accuracy. How does that make me flawed in any way? The accurate numbers make that statement 50% incorrect. Do you not find issue with that?
Yes. I think something should be done to reign in exorbitant medical costs.
No. I do not want Government involved in MY Medical care. I do not want the failed health care systems of Canada, Great Britain and others for my country.
I have never said that. Limbaugh didn’t say that. If you want to be ignorant, that’s your business. Please do not put your ignorant words in my mouth.
Limbaugh has explained himself numerous times. I won’t bother because I recognize that people such as you are too closed minded to ever accept their narrow, biased view of things may ever be wrong. But for you to perpetuate this lie is simply wrong.
Failed health care system of Canada and UK?
You obviously understand little of what constitutes health care on a national level. Health care is not measured on how it handles a single individual but instead on how it deals with the entire population on a number of levels: quality, access, cost, etc.
The last time the World Health Organization measured and rated health care (in 2000) on a global level, the UK ranked as 18th best, Canada at 30 and the US at 37.
If you look at life expectancy, Canada is ranked at 14th highest, the UK at 37th highest and the US ranked in 45th position.
On infant mortality, out of a group of 222 countries, ranked from highest mortality rate to lowest: UK – 194, Canada – 191, US – 180
So Canada and the UK have higher life expectancy rates and lower infant mortality rates and NO ONE in either of those countries will ever go bankrupt because of health care.
So believe what you want, reality says otherwise.
And I’m sorry, but missed that point:
“….how really bad healthcare is in America.”
WHAT???? You can make the argument access is bad. You can make the argument cost is bad. But how can any reasonably intelligent person advance, defend or support a statement such as that?
I rate it based on whether I, or more importantly, one of my loved ones dies waiting in line for mediocre, at best, health care.
That’s the “reality” I choose to believe.
Of course, it doesn’t matter. Socialized health care is going to be forced down our throats because if for no other reason, it buys these Politicians another 45 million votes.
Look, if it will save you any time or effort, I can research just as you or anyone else can. I understand when you factor in all the peripheral issues such as cost, life expectancy, mortality rates, etc. it affects the overall rating of a Health Care System.
I too, looked at the same 10 year old report you did but didn’t give it a lot of weight because of how old it is. I looked for more recent data, didn’t find it easily and frankly, didn’t want to put more effort in it because I have no desire or inclination to change the screwed up way you think.
To me, the telling “reality” you speak of is people flocking to the US for Health Care in the face of serious illness, REGARDLESS the cost.
So, to quote your own words, “…believe what you want, reality says otherwise.”
If you choose to measure health care only by how it affects yourself and loved ones, that’s fine but you are then in no position to write on the state of health care in the US. Your comments are applicable only to yourself and your circle of acquaintances.
The leader of a country does not have that luxury. As surprising as it might be to you, the president must look beyond the case of ‘cix2012′. I am sure that President Obama has excellent health care insurance and has access to a level of health care that few in the world have. But he’s looking at health care from a national level – on how it affects everyone who calls themselves an American.
Discussing health care on how it affects one or twenty individuals is useless. This is not the issue at hand. I’m sure you can understand this simple fact…but then maybe you can’t. You seem to be of the belief that what is good for you, should be good for the nation. Pretty narrow-minded position, would you not think?
Also, the president has stated numerous times that if one is happy with their current health care plan, then nothing will change except that you’ll be paying lower premiums.
As for the studies I cited in my last comment, the life expectancy and infant mortality ratings are from the last couple of years.
If our Health Care system is Socialized or Nationalized, the quality will be negatively impacted across the board. That is the reality.
Narrow minded or not, what is YOUR position going to be if it is one of your loved ones dying while waiting in line to be approved by the Government to receive care?
Why don’t you just leave it there? While many people may desire a Nationalized Health Care System, many of us do not! Arguments can be made for both sides.
Hopefully, this blossoming abject failure of a leader will be able to strike a responsive position between the two.
:-) :-) WWWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! You called Obama a failure!!!!!!! WWWWAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! :-) :-)
How is fixing a broken healthcare system equivalent to socialized medecine? Millions cannot afford healthcare insurance of any kind and tens of millions of others are faced with skyrocketing premiums. Companies are facing bankruptcies in a large part because of health benefits. The only ones benefiting from the current state of our healthcare system are insurance companies.
It dismays me to hear the same blind nonsense by republicans who cannot see beyond the end of their noses. The system needs fixing and the ailing economy cannot afford to wait any longer while selfish dimwits complain about socialized medecine.
Wow!! Me too!! I hate those dimwits that complain about Socialized “medecine”. Now Socialized “Medicine”?? :-) That’s a different matter.
Once again, the argument is erroneously framed by you guys. It becomes, “Do what WE want or Do nothing” as the choice. (Come on Mr. Moderator! Step in there with that, “Straw Man” thing of yours!)
I don’t see anyone suggesting that something should not be done to make Health Care more accessible and more affordable. I do see many that do not want the Government involved in day to day Health Care decisions.
The issue is “WHAT” to do. Not “do what WE want” opposed to “do NOTHING”.
cix2012;
When your argument begins with making fun of someone over a spelling error, it does say much about the person you are.
Secondly, the only straw man here is the one introduced by you that President Obama is moving towards a socialized or nationalized health care system. He is doing no such thing but I know it sounds real scary when every talking head at Fox News repeats the nonsense over and over. There is no plan to replicate the health care systems of Canada and the UK.
As PolitiFact.com reports: “Obama’s plan leaves in place the private health care system, but seeks to expand it to the uninsured.”
“…the plan is very different from some European-style health systems where the government owns health clinics and employs doctors.”
You can now do your homework and stop spreading lies. But do feel free to mock me for any spelling errors you come across in my writing.
First off. Lighten up. It’s very obvious you take yourself WAY too serious.
If you can’t find ironic humor in someone calling people “blind, non-sensible dimwits” in a message rife with grammatical and spelling errors, then I suggest you step back, take a deep breath and re-evaluate yourself.
The “Straw Man” if you will, is saying that because you do not agree with President Obama’s direction, then you are in favor of doing nothing. I have stated in almost every comment I’ve made regarding this matter that I feel something needs to be done.
You know, in reviewing posts on this blog, it has become apparent that you save your criticisms almost exclusively for those who are not of your ilk and who disagree with you. May I please take the liberty of once again, reminding you of your own mission statement:
“My wish is that this site become a forum for all to express their views regardless of political beliefs in an environment of harmony and respect.”
I submit Sir, respect starts with yourself.
(BTW, I have ignored your grammatical and spelling errors. I just found humor in being called a dimwit in a post containing misspelled words. I may well be a dimwit. But I are a good speller!!)
All those words and you didn’t address the issue of health care anywhere. So much for your input.
I’m sorry. I thought I made my thoughts on the subject quite clear.
I would like to see the cost of health care reined in. (See my comment above.) I would like health care to be readily accessible to all. (See my comment above.) I don’t want to see our health care system nationalized or socialized. (See my comment above.) I do not want the Government involved in decisions regarding my health care. (See my comment above.)
If President Obama can accomplish those things without negatively impacting the quality of health care I receive now, I’m all for it. (See my comments above.)
If he can accomplish that AND save me money on my existing health care, then I’m even MORE for it. (See my comments above.)
Perhaps you didn’t see those things because I don’t start my comments with how wonderful Obama and Liberals are and how horrible and stupid all Republicans and Conservatives are. And throw in a few pats on the back for how bright YOU are while I’m at it.
You got to understand Sonny Boy. You get yourself in trouble just assuming.
Nice to see you and Obama on the same page. He too wants the cost of health care reduced as well as have it accessible to all. And like you, he has no desire to have government controlling your medical decisions. (That, of course, is the insurance company’s domain.)
The president also wants to maintain the highest level of health care possible…naturally. And, as I pointed out previously, there is no nationalization of health care in his plan.
So there you go, you and the president agree on health care. Nice.
There. See how well things go when you take off those blinders??
Although I’m not sure we are in total agreement on how to achieve them, he and I share some of the same goals.
(You’ll have to excuse me now. I’m going to have to take some time to contemplate how I justify this with YOUR statement attributed to me that I want the President to fail.)