I don't think Reid, or most liberals for that matter, understand the concept of insurance.

You purchase insurance and then in the event of something going wrong, your claims will be paid.

Liberal think: I have no insurance. I get cancer. I should be able to go to an insurer and get coverage. Or, better yet, I have no insurance. I get into a car accident. I should be able to go to any car insurance company and they'll pay all my claims and fix my car.

Nonsense.

Bull. What liberals and any fair minded human being thinks. is that if you pay insurance all your life, the insurance company should not be able to deny payment for treatment for any reason.

What stupidity are you talking about Lynchmob, if a person pays insurance they should not be denied because of a preexisting condition, what would be the purpose of getting insurance in the first place if not for protection, should they be always allowed to collect and not pay out claims?

Reid said "Republicans want to let insurance companies go back to denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions... "

That is what I was commenting on. It is an over-simplified statement by a con man.

To force insurance companies to accept people with pre-existing conditions goes against the business model of insurance. Why didn't the person already have coverage? I'm not talking about people born with conditions. Those are few and far between and we should have compassion for them and help them. But to open the doors so that everyone with any situation must be granted coverage regardless of circumstance is ridiculous.

I am not talking about denying claims.

I'm talking about people who do not have insurance. Then something goes wrong. Then they cry that no one will insure them.

The analogy to car insurance fails. Consider this:

Let's say you have a "pre-existing condition" that impairs your driving such as blindness. Then you cannot get auto insurance because you cannot get a drivers license. This is okay because ultimately driving is optional.

If your pre-existing condition impairs your health on the other hand, you still need health insurance because, unlike driving, having health is not optional.

Lynchmob. (great name)

That is just a phony right wing talking point. What the republicans really want to do is make it easy for insurance companies to deny anyone for any reason, even those who have never missed a payment.

The insurance company's are a BUSINESS. Business are in business to make money. Woman have more health related claims than men, therefore it cost more to insure them, (pap smears, pregnancy, mammograms, etc.). What does Reid not understand about this?

I have a cadillac but I want to pay the same insurance as all people that have a cobalt.....not gonna happen.

Really pretty basic business priniples.....that is probably what is stumping Ried

Bitch McConnell wants to repeal healthcare reform??!! Then he and his republican constituents should give up their Medicare benefits and burn their Medicare cards. Because as we all know, Medicare is a form of socialism. And socialism to a republican is like garlic to a vampire. However, vampires do seem to have a lot in common with vampires.

Lynchmob

Nonsense,

I am glad we mandate people to have car insurance and it makes everyone responsible a little bit for their action etc which lead to healthier life. You don't wait until you get cancer and buy medical insurance. But those physical exams do a lot wonder if medical doctors can detect problems in earlier stages.

I am a healthcare provider here and own a small business. What you said is not true. When I try to purchase my medical insurance, it has been going up the past 12 years and Regence just drops my plan. At the age 44 I already pay $544.00/ month with $250.00 deductible;now they drop the plan starting 2011 and want to move me into another plan that will have $1000.00 deductible. And the premium will be in the $600.00+ range and will only go up so far each year.

Tell me how poor and average people can afford that? If you are lucky to get medical insurance from your company, wait until one day if you have to purchse it by yourself and find out.

Also insurance benifits are important because it means preventive care, eye care and drug prescription.

By going back to be barberic society and a doggy doggy world, who will pay for hospital bills when people showing up and can't pay for medical services there? Then what? the states end up to pay them.

Health care reform has to take place because like it or not, it is a part of life in the U.S. and we have to deal with.

Best regards

Lynchmob -- a pre-existing condition is any condition that you have when you get insurance....suppose that you have been insured your entire life, you're insured through your employer and your doctor discovers that you have diabetes. Now if you lose your job, or try to change jobs and change insurers, you have a "pre-existing condition." It isn't because you went without insurance until you got sick. Or suppose that you are self-employed and pay for your own insurance through a provider of your choosing. Again, suppose during a routine check-up you discover that you have a skin cancer. It is removed, all seems well. But now your premiums jump up -- you want to shop around for a better deal, but now you have a "pre-existing condition" and will find it hard to get a better deal elsewhere -- your choice has become to pay lots of money to the original insurer (even though your insurance allowed prompt treatment and minimal cost to them) or pay lots of money to an unknown insurer. I promise this will be my last post.

Lynchmob take your blinders off and step into the real world.

Hmmmm? ol' Harry thinking of the people and not power and glory uh? That would have been easier to believe if his "ground game" in Nevada had not been composed entirely of union thugs and goons from the likes of SEIU and the Steelworkers Union exercising their early, massive, house to house, beat out the vote campaign. It will be interesting though, to see how Ol' Harry will choose to reward the people vs the Labor Unions and who will really benefit the most.

Lynchmob, I suggest you find another board out there on which to post. On this board, we have some expectation of intelligence. Even from confused righties -- seriously!

I think you have hit on the reason why our health care industry has caused the cost of care to rise so much.

It has a bussiness model.

Health care should be about the health of the citizens in this country, not money. When money is the motive, health care takes a back seat.

Now, that being said, the insurance industry touches way to many things in our economy to do away with it, so they must be incorporated as they were in the legislation. Psuedo-insurance, which is where we are likely to end up, has worked very well in countries with a much higher health care rating then ours.

Your statements about insurance companies bussiness model is valid, however, health care should be more about care and less about the bussiness model.

There is a reason why we do not intrust certain things, such as the military, to private industry....money will enevitably get in the way of what should be the goal.

Lynchmob, you don't understand the state of healthcar in this country. I am sorry you are so brainwashed to not see what really is going on. I cannot help but judge your morality that you accept insurance companies making money off not giving ppl care.. you care more about the profits being made by the insurance companies. We are the only western industrialized country that does not ahve a comprehensive healthcare system. Our market based healthcare system is failing and increasing in costs esp since insurance companies compete with each other and premiums rise. Healthcare reform is not a partisan issue... the same argument that conservatives support for national fire care and police care is the same for healthcare. It lines up with republican philosophy which is why both right and left in the western countries agree with a nationalized healthcare system in other western countries. Cons claim about self-responsibility and the individual being suppressed in such a system. When really this can be used to support it: An individual, in order to maximize his utility, his efficiency int he workplace and elsewhere, as well as his/her being the utmost responsible needs basic access to healthcare in order to individually fulfill their persona wants and needs in society. The idnividual can achieve more by him/herself and have more freedom to do as he or she pleases if basic healthcare service is provided without discriminatory practices. Fianancial setbacks that are unfair due to a private agency rising premiums due to competition and the want of increased revenue restricts the individual by restricting the individual's freedom, liberty, and self-responsibility.

Again, why is it ridiculous to give care to everyone as long as ppl pay their taxes? You are irrational and have no idea what you are saying. You deliberately want to deny ppl care for no reason.

How dare Reid be so insolent and disrespectful? Doesn't he understand the concept of property rights? This election was entirely bought and paid for by Wall Street, the corporate elite and the insurance industry. What McConnell is talking about is just the return on their investment. They own the government now.

Harry Reid is out of touch. They knew from the beginning that the American people did not want this over the top bill passed. They shoved in down our throats anyway without giving anyone enough time to read it. I agree with Lynchmob. Why shouldn't Health insurers deny coverage to someone who has never paid a dime into health insurance and then expects to be covered when they become ill. I pay 100% health insurance for my employees and since this bill has been passed my insurance has gone up $5,000 per month. The Democrats were stomped and they should listen to what people said to them on Tuesday night.

Senator Reid; You Still Dont Get It! The American People have spoken loud and clear! Your lucky your not flying home with Pelosi on her broomstick. We never really voted the repubs in .We Voted against OBAMA and you. Your Policies , Cash for clunkers, a 2,600 page health care abortion, 1 Trillion dollar stimulas ( That Failed), Cap & trade, Card check to pay back the unions for supporting ( Or Buying) you! The list goes on and on AND You couldnt provide an America where business could feel safe , invest and hire. NO ITS NOT THE REPUBLICANS ; Its You!

Marie - nobody shoved anything down your throat. The GOP leadership had AMPLE OPPORTUNITY to make amendments to this bill; they did not and voted NO. they did not have the votes to stop the passage of this bill.

Even when the President came to the Republicans - much to the chagrin of the left-wing, who LOUDLY repudiated that tactic - they said 'NO'.

So, with no other choice, the Health care Law was passed WITHOUT GOP assistance.

Now, how can you even say that ANYTHING was shoved down your throats?

Backroom deals? The GOP leadership said 'NO'.

Amendments to the bill? The GOP leadership said 'NO'.

It seems to me that your GOP leadership sold you a bill of goods because they are INCOMPETENT. Lucky for you, you have this SAME incompetence as leadership for the next 2 years.

The pre-existing condition clause should have said no minors can be turned down for pre-existing conditions.

That way children are covered if they are born with an illness or one turns up later in childhood

but the taxpayers don't have to pay for a forty-five year old smoker's lung cancer or a drinker's cirrhosis since they brought those conditions on themselves by living a reckless life style.

That really seems to be the only logical way to do it and not have the system financially collapse.

slimsignet - your post is a good example on how we can make the health care law BETTER. Your proposal - one that I would support, by the way - COULD be an amendment to the law that would probably pass without issue.

THIS is what we need to be striving for. If you are a GOP supporter, you need to crack the hard heads of the GOP leadership and get them to start putting things like THIS up for debate.

Thanks Pietro.

There's a lot of good ideas we can all pool and then let Washington know. If we stop pointing fingers at each other and instead point them collectively at Washington I guarantee things will get done for the better of everyone.

slimsignet,

If we could somehow exclude smokers, drinkers and the obese that brought on theirown disease your idea would work. If we could prove that their own choices were to blame. I don't think that would be possible in a lot of cases.

What about the 45 year old mother that gets breast cancer, loses her job, and gets another job that doesn't offer group health insurance? She would be unable to get health insurance. Would you have her excluded too?

If you think that only children should be gaurenteed and ther rest should be exluded based on pre-exsisting conditions (bad habbits or not). Then your idea would work, although I don't think it is the right think to do.

Or do you want to leave out only the people with bad habits and guaranteed everyone else gets insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions? Its not clear from your post. If that is the case, it might put a dent in the cost but it wouldn't be a huge difference. Plus, how wouldtheir bad habits make them officialy stricken from the safe list? On the honor system, government agents identifying them, or thier neighbors reporting them?

If you think that only children should be gaurenteed and ther rest should be exluded based on pre-exsisting conditions (bad habbits or not). Then your idea would work, although I don't think it is the right think to do

Charles. Unfortunately it seems that is the only way to make it realistically feasible from a sustainability point of view.

It would be great if everybody could be covered for everything but then you open it up to things like people gaming the system in order to have their hospital bills covered by waiting until they're sick. If paying the fine is cheaper than actually getting coverage, a lot of people are going to do just that.

Charles does have a point, though. I was thinking on the terms of diseases from excessive drinking and cancer from smoking. Obesity is another issue, as there are a lot of causes. As far as children are concerned, that should be covered.

Charles - I am sure we will have to make exceptions to the rule... and that is where compromise comes in.

Nontheless, we need to work together to AMEND the Healthcare Law, not to repeal it.

Exactly Pietro.

We have to work TOGETHER.

Exactly my point.

The insurance industry: where people pay for a service, only to have a fairly significant portion of that payment be used to prevent them from getting the service they are paying for.

The fact of the matter is universal health care is far more fiscally conservative than any other system, as demonstrated by every other industrialized nation on this planet. Not to mention, it's demonstrably more effective.

I would agree, madcow11, so why does the GOP establishment fight universal care so much?

people and health are not the same as cars. Health is not something you don't have; a car is something you don't have until you acquire it, and then decide if you are going to insure it.

Your health begins before birth. People are born with conditions that affect their health; how can that be considered pre-existing? Yet, that is what insurance companies would call it.... in the USA. Every other developed country has health insurance that begins with your creation, and you are covered.

I am not a car, don't make analogies about me using inanimate objects.

I did not ask to have diabetes. I have spent my whole adult life dieting, exercising--to keep myself in good control--mine was genetic....yet now....i find myself unable to afford a $2000.00 a month insurance hike--so I am trying to buy insurance and guess what-----i am a risk and uninsurable!!!!! in 38 yrs of my life-----i filed under 5 claims-----in the end....it doesnt matter!!!!

Why don't you keep your devious thoughts to yourself Alan, NJ..Look who you people in NJ choose to be Governor, speaks volumes of Jersey Folks.

Stop making excuses for ole' soft azz Reid. They will give this old man hell during the next 2 yrs. No one voted in all of those Republicans to be compromising. Give the Democrats a dose of their own medicine. You all remember the slogan "WE WON", well that will not be forgotten.

I guarantee the GOP will stay on the attack. We don't retreat, we push on.

...."stay on the attack".......kinda like them "Muslin geeehauwdists".

Dems shouted "We Won" When they actually WON,,,,,,,,,Republicans evened the odds in one house and hold a majority of maybe 1/2 dozen when it is all said and done, Democrats still have control of the Presidency and Congresss, But now they can point and laugh as Republicans try to screw the American people over and give a little pay back for all those millions Insurance companies pumped into their pockets over the last 2 years.

Less than 24 hrs after becoming the "majority" on promises of fixing the economy and tackling unemployment,,,,,,,,,,,,Their right back in the pockets of big business.

ITM: Is revenge a dish best served cold on Capitol Hill - much as it is in space?

Bo since you know so much. Name a Democrat that won any election without spending money. Democrats are in the pocket also. Do you not think Obama does not owe big money something? Man you better wake up, this is politics in America.

BTW: Republicans picked up 60+ seats. They have a bigger majority than the Dems had; that is not a half dozen. Dems do not have control of the Congress idiot. They are in the majority in the Senate by maybe 6 Senators.

The house holds the purse, supeona power, tax laws, etc. You had better take a government class.

P.S. Most insurance company HQ are in Democrat districts.

Yea, in the Middle TX, I know about the MOB Mentality.

I wish that the left would quit whining, they have controlled the congress for the last 4 years and the white house the last 2. They have pushed through their mandates against what the majority of the people wanted. They got the boot Tuesday. If government doesn't get things done, then in the next election the rest will get the boot.

The way McConnell is talking, he is planning a run for the presidency. He won't get my vote, he is too much a Washington insider to be trusted. We, the people, need to start talking about term limitations for congress. The constitution needs to be amended to fix the problem of long time politicians.

Lynchmob

Liberal think: I have no insurance. I get cancer. I should be able to go to an insurer and get coverage. Or, better yet, I have no insurance. I get into a car accident. I should be able to go to any car insurance company and they'll pay all my claims and fix my car.

I don't think you understand incurance.

Teabaggers don't seem to comprehend that when someone without insurance gets gravely ill or is in an accident, hospital emergency rooms are required by law to provide treatment, even if the patient cannot pay for it. Then everyone, including teabaggers, must pay the costs incurred by the hospitals through increased premiums. That's why the health care reform law REQUIRES everyone to have insurance.

You want the health care reform to be repealed. OK. So does that mean you want to continue paying the hospital costs for the uninsured? Given the cruelty and selfishness that ultraconservatives so often display, I doubt it.

Houston,

Now I don't want to pay for uninsured people's hospital bills, but I want them to have affordable insurance. I don't want a government run insurance program, because the government cannot run any program without putting it in the RED. I don't like mandated fines for not choosing to purchase insurance, if someone chooses not to purchase, they should have to pay their bills. If they don't pay their bills, then it is the Dr/Hospital that should have to collect using the full extent of the laws we have already.

I actually don't think you should be denied insurance, and that would be more regulatory to me, not a 2500 page bill. I think that insurance should not be allowed to deny claims, another regulatory situation, probably wouldn't need 2500 pages to write that one either. As long as you have paid all of your premiums, you should never be denied your insurance, unless maybe for some beauty enhancing cosmetic surgeries. Which a lot of people in the Houston area often receive:)

Of course I don't believe in the seat belt laws either!

Get a clue! Government run is just Republican code they use to lie about what HCR really is.

It's not government run. People get to choose insurance companies just like others who do so

when their company covers them. Think! The Republicans despite not wanting to be bi-partisan got a

HCR bill that compromised from the direction of "public option" toward more of a privately insured plan.

They can pretend they didn't have time to read the bill all they want. The fact is the bill was read on the house floor. When you're (GOP) opposing everything you don't even look at what it is you just know you (GOP) want to disagree with everything just to be cynical!

Big Bear: What a stupid talking point, oh, the bill's 2500 pages long. That's what your congress people have staff for - to read bills and pick out the significant points. And that's also what your congressmen/women get paid for, get lifetime medical insurance coverage and benefits for, to read the damn bills. Obviously your buds are a bunch of lazy a$$ people who would rather obstruct than do any work. Who cares how damn long the bill is as long as it helps people who are uninsured get coverage, so we're not paying all of their emergency room expenses. All you have to do with a Repub is hold up a bright shiny object and they cannot think of anything else.

I'll say it again - we don't need "big" government or "small" government, we need a government and congress that works for the people, and that try to accomplish the huge and complicated tasks of running this country, keeping us safe, and doing those things which each individual cannot do for themselves, like schools, roads, bridges, infrastructure, and regulation, so we're not giving our kids toys from China with lead in them, we're not apologizing to BP (as did Joe Barton) for spilling all their nasty oil into our gulf. You just don't get it. Another stupid talking point about health care reform, is tort reform.....let's just say the doc accidentally slips and cuts nerves in your spine, or severs an artery and you bleed to death or your child does, or by bad practice procedures one of your children dies from lack of diagnosis (which should have been known). I guess your family does not deserve to be compensated for the lack of support that you would have given throughout your life. Or that you cannot replace a child, but you can punish a doctor who should not be in business. And medical tort cases are something like 0.01% of the cost of health care. If you people would do your homework and your nasty congress people did theirs, there wouldn't be all these stupid lying talking points and our country might accomplish something. Why is it that you think we are rated #22 in health care (I'm not sure if it's 22 or 12 and can't check right now), but the truth is we're not #1. How exceptional is that?

Doug M,

Maybe you should learn to read, I said I don't want a government run health care system, which we don't have as of yet. Because you know as well as I do, that the government is incapable of running anything correctly. Sit there and try and spin someone not wanting to see the government do something. I want people to have affordable insurance, I even said that below the 1st paragraph. I don't think it should be mandated, nor should some be denied claims, especially if they pay their premiums. No where in my statement did I say there was a government run health insurance program. Assumption was made, and you know what happens when people assume.

Cathy M,

I am sure that you sat down and read the entire law, just like every democratic congressman did also. I am sure that those aid read every page also, but my statement was that we could have accomplished much more without all those papers. Regulation bills could have gotten through with bi-partisanship if they had done some of the things individually, instead of a 2500 page bill, that has a crap load of amendments in it. Why in a health care reform bill is there a section that people now have to report the purchase of gold in it? What does that have to do with health care? Why a 7 page form to be filled out, when someone purchases gold for themselves? Why is this the government's business? Or should the government control all our lives.

And really, who is getting affordable insurance now? If you can't afford insurance, you get government subsidies for it? Who pays for the subsidies, oh that's right, the taxpayers? If you don't purchase insurance, and you can afford it, you are now mandated and fined. Where is the American choice in that?

Yet, what I said, was that we could have had regulatory bills, passed by everyone, that wouldn't have to be so long, because according you all of you on here that seem to read every word of every bill, we needed all of that in a health care reform law.

I mean really, you send a bill to the floor, and it say something like this "Insurance companies cannot deny anyone for a pre-existing condition" who on either side of the aisle could vote "no" without that being used against them in an election. Or, "Insurance companies cannot deny any children full coverage of medical insurance, and accident insurance". Again, which congressman could vote against something like that and get re-elected. Everyone seems to think it is much harder than that, more complicated, but that is their fault, they place to many amendments and other crap on easy simple things.

Which leads to your point that shiny things are worth looking at? You must get your news for Matthews and Maddow, 2 fine examples of individuals that have used the American dream? Maybe if they aren't taxed enough they would donate their money to reduce the deficit.

By the way, learn to interpret what you read!

for sure!!!!!!!!! we are in for a rude awakening, mark my words!!!!!!!!!!!

Where ya' been, Truthteller? We've kept a fire burnin' over at the Dew Drop! Would love to chat more when you get a chance!

PS. The only thing I noticed in my plan is that I can no longer by my tylenol (over the counter) with my PRETAX dollars (MedFlex). That is a bit of a bummer; but I guess I'll try and use more coupons for that stuff.

This is not in this thread but in a previous one.

I take care of the insurance for my office. There are two people on the plan and the cost presently is $1,200 per month with a $3,000 deductible. When I started here 4 years ago it was $789 per month, with no deductible. It has raised more than 13% each year, and that is generally what the raise is each year no matter what company you are with, I know as I have to check yearly as to who has the lowest premiums. Do you ever see your bills? Gee thanks Medical Mutual and Humana, can you suck any more from people's incomes? So the cost for two people for a year is $14400, plus the $3000 deductible, a total of $17,400. And you don't want any competition for insurance companies and want to repeal a health care bill, please, get a grip on reality.

Likely that point when you come up for air after mucking about at the bottom of the swamp.

Harry has the middle class behind him 100%?? Denny, are you alright??? There is concern for such a statement, at least about your mental abilities..........

Maybe not 100%, but 47% and growing. Definitely no clear mandate to repeal.

It is interesting to see that everyone blames the corporate world for their misfortune. Does that mean that all of you work for the corporate world? Such hatred, many of these corporations were founded, led by Americans, gave others jobs, and yet they are the root of all evil. How many Americans rely on corporations for their livelihood? Not only work for corporations, but their small businesses rely on corporations to purchase their goods or services.

I mean, whose fault is it, the left says the rich and corporations should pay, the right says its governments fault. Well maybe we should all look in a mirror, because we are the ones electing these bozos to office.

Is this like saying, "Build the dang fence."?

I'm not sure your point; but if you are affected by a potential tax hike (affecting those earning more than $250K/year), I suggest you talk to a different tax advisor. Or you suck it up and pay the extra 4% on the earnings above the $150K threshold, which in the above scenario (if you earn exactly $250K) is $4K. That's it, you are complaining about $4,000. And to someone at minimum wage, $4K is equivalent to a 33% pay raise. At your income, you will never even miss that money, but I assure you if you are at the poverty line - it is the difference between eating three meals a day or not. But don't let something as logical as math interrupt your "I got mine, screw you" mentality. We get it. You're taxed enough already. But I am curious. When your tax rate went on sale 10 years and it was passed through reconciliation with a DATE CERTAIN for expiration, were you somehow confused that the 'sale' would end? Or were you just woefully unprepared for the reality? Either way,...it sure seems phony to complain about it now - I mean you ate GRAVY for 10 years. Was that not 'gift enough'? And don't go telling me it is YOUR money. Technically, taxes are the dues we all pay to live in a 'free' society. What part of that felt 'exempt' to you?

Captain:

Democrats have lowered taxes. Or did you not get that memo?

Clara, I agree!

Does that CHOICE also fall into the category of a Woman's Choice to CHOOSE?

Or maybe, this is the Compromise we've been waiting for!

Talking Points, "My Way or the Highway", I call B--LS--T.

You or NoOne on this Board will dictate to Me!

Who is taking away your choice?

ProudInd. You do still have a choice, you personally can go to any company you want and buy any health care plan you want. I don't have a choice because my employer makes that decision and that has absolutely nothing to do with the HCR bill. Everytime the employer decides to go with some other company, employees have no choice.

Proud....you THINK you have a choice right now. Except that if anything actually makes it necessary for you to "use" the insurance you have been paying for, one of a few things will happen: 1) your premiums will skyrocket to recoup the money used for your claim; 2) your insurer of choice will tell you that it is "dropping" people in your situation, or 3) the insurer will actually pay what they say they will, but only after three mailings to make sure they can't sue anyone else to get the money, and after several months of telephone conversations with the medical people billing you for the money and the insurance adjusters, most of whom will make you wait through 15 minutes of canned music. There are occasions where everything works as it is supposed to, and those instances might be models as we look for ways to make the system work well for everyone.

Any company? So you can get insurance across state lines?

The ability to purchase insurance across state lines is part of HCR .

I have added this link before and have been told that the semantics are different than what the Republicans offered during the making of this bill, but the substance is hard to argue.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/five_compronises_in_health_car.html

Cool. All I've seen about it is that we couldn't. Thanks for the link.

It's amazing; he wins his election and now he's ready to fight.

Maybe Angle helped him grow a spine? Regardless, I could get USED to this! Plus, I am now ready for a serious amount of RECONCILIATION bills. It's clear we're not going to get Repub support, so now let's SHOW them what cramming stuff through ACTUALLY looks like! What was it Bush said? "I'll be long gone before anyone knows what happened in this office". 10 years will FEEL like long gone.

Back in 2006 Bush called it a "Thumping". That did'nt stop his Veto threats & outright Vetoes. Do yall really think President Obama is threatened by Words, Do ya?

Heck the Giants Won the World Series, does that the other teams fail to showup next year!

Impeachment talk, so childish!

Still smarting because Nixon's picture is the ONLY picture,that is'nt in the WH.

1/3 of the people who say they do not like HCR say so because they think it does not go far enough (meaning public option).

I believe President Obama ran on Healthcare reform, financial reform, reducing dependence on oil, along with others that he has not come close to, such as changing Washington (Bush said he would do that too although Obama has increased executive branch transparency) and trying to fix the economy (for some reason the American people think a president can greatly enhance the economy). That is why he was elected. I'd say he has worked to do what he campaigned on.

Get your head out of the sand and quit getting all your info from Fox News.

First of all, only 48% of people polled say they don't like HCR. That is not a majority.

As W.O. said above, a portion of those folks think it didn't go far enough...

Alan, we didn't want your TRASHY tax cuts.

Well said!!! I wonder what would happen if Pres. Obama cut out medicare altogether? The republicans and the seniors would have a fit. Don't people know that congress gets their health care from the government?

Alen the only loon I see here is you...how you gonna impeach the prez? because you don't agree with him? how stupid you really need to go back to school and get educated try critical thinking. ignorance is not bliss that's for sure.

So is excessive emoticon usage.

Spoken like a true rightard!

A disease treated by using critical thinking, research, and facts.

Some of the symptoms of Liberalism include;

1. The ideal of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

2. Common sense and understanding.

3. A vigorous feeling of wanting to know more.

4. A concept of "All People Are Created Equal", from the womb into freedom.

5. Understanding of the notion: business should act in a responsible, safe, and consumer positive way.

6. Comprehension that humans running business have the freedoms of the Constitution, Incorporated Mega-Biz does not.

7. The thoughts that Insurance, Banking, and Commerce traffickers should have strict guidelines and run with resonsibility to the consumers of the country in which its currency is traded.

Dose with the prelisted remedies as needed.

Good for you, Sam

I don't know why everyone is saying the Republicans cleaned house on Tuesday. This has happened throughout our history. It isn't like the entire house is Republican. They only outnumber democrats by around 60 seats. The Senate still has a democratic majority.

We keep going back and forth between either party to make things better. When Republicans fail to fix things we move on to the Democrats and vice versa.

What everyone doesn't seem to get is that we need both parties to function. People also need to actually educate themselves on the issues and stop lumping all of us Americans together. If you look at the trend in voting over the last 20 years or so, the 50 states are split evenly between Republican and Democrat. Seven states are considered battleground (purple, neither red or blue) and can go either way in an election year.

That is what you get when people continue voting old white men back in again and again.

I have a better idea, send McConnell, Boehner to retirement--"these two act like complete idiots." Where's their plan, how will they create all the jobs they've been yelping about for two years--oh, their plan is to continue obstructing and to defeat President Obama and if the country fails and more of its people suffer, in the words of Dick Cheney...so?

I'm glad you posted this, thanks for sharing. There are many people like you and probably many more will eventually be in a similar situation. HCR isn't perfect but no big legislation ever is, it requires fixes and tweaks to improve it--but it is a start and thanks to it, people like you have better odds of getting health insurance today than you did last year.

Does your state not offer an individual high-risk health insurance policy, that is guaranteed issue. Oklahoma does and has for at least 15 years. Call your state insurance commissioner. You may be surprised. This was never mentioned in the health care debate, such as it was. The problem with this one size fits all health care reform, is that laws and policies vary from state to state. Many of the reform laws have already been insituted.

I don't think anybody is against people with a pre-existing condition being able to obtain health insurance, or a sick child. But, we are against covering non-citizens (which is in the bill, if you read it). If we have to accept pre-x, why would any of us pay for health insurance until we need it. The fine is cheaper.

Having stated these few things, this bill needs overhauling. Will BO be able to work with the other side, listen to suggestions, actually include something to improve health CARE? One can only hope.

Are they listening to their constituents? Those are the people they should be listening to, not the pollsters and pundits.

Those yahooz are so far in the bubble they are using it to do their breathing. They DON'T speak for me. And I can name at least a half dozen of REPUBLICAN friends whom it has already impacted FAVORABLY. They are parents with children who either got pregnant and couldn't marry due to the pre-existing condition of being pregnant (two families) and four others whose college grads have NOT found work in this job climate; but are not enrolled in school. I know several people with pre-existing conditions that have not been insured in years due to job changes are unexpected circumstances. That is the worst game of roulette. The going uncovered and praying you don't have an accident or recurring health issue.

Of course, THAT gamble was paid for by the INSURED among us. In the form of higher premiums. And for those who are squealing because your premiums went up again,...This is NO different than prior years. Insurance companies are trying to figure out HOW much 'pain' they can inflict before the government steps in and says,...no - sorry; but 28% increases are extortion and you're not going to be able to hoodwink the American People any longer.

Chef,

Constituents are those that live within the area represented by that senator. All of the people, not just those that voted for him. Kinda what this country was founded on. When they say that they are doing the will of the American people, they are marginalizing the ones with a different opinion. Very un-American

Constituents are those that live within the area represented by that senator.

I know what the word means, thanks.

they are marginalizing the ones with a different opinion. Very un-American

Kinda like this forum?

Well said. It is "all of the above" plus a bit of jealousy that someone other than Reagan, especially a democrat, can inspire people. The fact that President Obama is so intelligent drives them bonkers and that is why so often the conservative posters do everything they can to label him otherwise.

Personally, I figure they still can't get their tiny brains around a Black President

Dude, the "if you can't beat em, call em racist" bit is a bit old.

Even if the racists outnumber you, let them know that they are still racists.

Not bad my man not bad. It seems we have a choice. Get screwed by government or by corporations. I'll take my chances on government. Either way about 50% of us think we're getting the shaft. That depends on where you live, what you do, what church you attend (if any), your education and sadly your ignorance of political candidates. The % can change depending on where your life is and whether or not you're paying attention. I'd rather believe PT Barnum "There's a sucker born every minute". Is the media a part of this "You betch ya". FOX and Rush are winning right now for their own profit. But hey, that's what America is all about, right. I'll make mine and screw you.

Our country has dementia, we've got blinders on and we are very impatient. If John McCain had won the 2008 election what would be different now for better or worse? Personally, I think it would be worse.

Perfect, I like them apples.

I like them apples, too.

And all those cuts you suggest won't make a dent, not even a good sized dent. It isn't that easy, nothing is. As for the vacation nonsense--petty nitpicking. Bush and his first lady didn't cut back on their vacations while the debt continued to double during the administration.

Here's a thought--your employer says, hey, we're taking back your vacation because we think you don't really need one, never mind you're working 12-14 hour days, 7 days a week. How about them apples?

You were doing so well and then you had to start picking on the First Lady and the kids. You undermine your stated purpose if you wish to be so petty as to cost cut on the first family. Penny wise and pound foolish suddenly when we have the first black family in the Whitehouse.

If you really want to cut the deficit, the government is going to have to run a profit. Are you willing to advocate that?

The point with the vacations was like all Americans our first family should be showing leadership. Now for the Bush vacations, I agree but I also believe two wrongs do not make a right. The amount of staffing in Washington is outrageous, in good times who cares but these are not good times. We as a country need to all suck it up. I am disappointed that your immediate thought is we don't want the black family to have a vacation? Shame on you, you are part of the problem.

I dd not say take away a vacation, I said to cut back the vacations to one. Personally, I don't think going back to Chicago for holidays with family and friends is a vacation. I am talking about Hawaii, Spain, India, MA, etc. As for myself no I have not had a vacation in two years, I am on call 24/7 and have numerous days of 9+ hours. I am doing what needs to be done for my business and family.

I disagree that cutting expenses across the board will make a difference. Where would you recommend we start? How would you recommend we begin the process?

With not making the "mistake" of focusing your cost cutting efforts on the First Family, ever.

You never should have gone there, it undermines your motivation.

There are TRILLIONS to be saved elsewhere in the budget.

Those who are unwilling to look like racists, are probably racists.

Make progress on the deficit everywhere else but with the First black First family and they will voluntarily cut back themselves. Start with them as your focus and you can't be considered serious.

Paul do you know the color of my skin? Do you know the color of my parents skin? Some of us can relate to the half and half better than others. Drop the racist crap it really has no bearing on anything. The first family needs to lead by example, period.

Doesn't matter what color your skin is, it matters where you think we should start cutting back on our spending. The first family is under no moral obligation to "lead by example" when it doesn't create any "followers" on spending cuts. They'll cut back when America begins a real austerity program on federal spending. The leaders on spending should be those with the power over the purse, that would be CONGRESS. Hold them accountable first, or be a racist hypocrite, the choice is simple.

Lynn,

I would argue that the 'vacation' of a head of state is purely semantic. He has full access to all intel and all tools at his disposal wherever he physically might be.

The issue appears to be the 'appearance'. Many have stated that it appears imprudent. Well, to that I say, Big Deal. If that is the only complaint, we probably need to grow up. Do you think the executives on Wall Street who continue to pay themselves astronomical bonuses with OUR money have lessened their vacation? Put your outrage where it SHOULD be, on those who have CAUSED the mess.

You got good Apples and it's a start...

You're lucky you have a choice. Millions of people in this country do not even get the choice.

With the costs rising dramatically every single year how long do you think it will be before companies stop offering insurance? Maybe you've noticed the amount covered drops every year!

They also think neither they nor their families will ever need unemployment benefits.

I know a lot of people that are in my retirement community. They rant about socialism. They rant about HCR. I just can't believe that they do not deny Medicare coverage and turn in their Social Security checks if they hate any level of socialism!

Doug they don't see it as socialism. The banter is they paid in all their working lives and they are taking their share out. I know but they are old. You can't explain to them that Social Security was designed as a supplement and was never indeed to be a sole support. It really is kind of sad how so many of them have children who just don't care if Mom and Dad have their medication.