BarryS's Comments (728)

“the holiday in question memorializes an event in the Christian Bible. so much for these "religious folk". Just another case of bigotry.”

“studies to show the opposite. And, at least Gay people want their children.”

“I am almost willing to give up on same-sex marriage as long as we follow the supposed "biblical traditions":

1. no divorce ever for any reason or death by stoning. [make this retroactive]

2. if no baby produced within let's say 2 years, marriage declared invalid, All benefits returned to state. And, you must impregnate your slaves to get a child [see Abraham]. Of course the other [multiple] wives are still valid.

Of course this means we need to go back to allowing slavery too, else how could you copulate with your slave?

As you can see, these people pick and choose what they want, and give excuses that they would never apply to themselves, banning or un-banning along the way the inconvenient truths of the past. Quite franky, Anyway, Jesus would be shocked today because most marriages don't have the pre-nuptual ritual bath. Better have your excuses ready when asked on Judgement Day.”

“DADT was bigotry plain and simple. Sen NuNN and Gen Powell were hysterics about shower-sharing [as though a five star general or the chairman of a senate committee was going to share a shower]. Enuf Said.”

“if Repugs didn't like the format that produced such a "long" bill, why didn't they change the rules during the 12 years they ran congress? Just nonsense from the party of "no, we hate the common man". Surely, they can read it. I did. it took a few hours, and I didn/t have the staff they do. Much of it is backup to prevent the insurance companies from finding loopholes. But, they are right in one sense: it could have been shorter:

to wit:

A Bill. On january 1, 2010 every American shall join Medicare A,B&D. The Medicare tax rate shall go up to 2 or 3 or5 percent [whatever is necessary]. All Doctors, medical faccilities, etc must accept Medicare payment if they had on July 1, 2009 for at least one year thereafter. All supplement Medicare insurance must be made available to all persons on an equal basis. Penalty: loss of rights to provide service to Medicare for 20 years.

end.”

“the article title seems to say they are going to sell stock in congress. too late it is already bought--totally owned.”

“sanctity of marriage -- don't "touch" your wife, use someone else's.”

“how about no public option traded for a 10-year total price and benefit freeze, with one million dollar a day per policy fine for violating it.”

“Colburn didn't broker agreement , he abetted Ensign's illegal activities. They should both resign, be investigated, and if convicted be sent off to prison. If the crimes occurred in Nevada, they can spend a few years discussing it with OJ in the yard.”

“Time to tell them that you are joining a church that does not participate in child-raping. If communion is so important to him, then at least get it from a priest that you can be sure didn't participate in the child-rape coverup.”

“He's not going to lose his seat. His constituents want these reforms. Just remind them that a vote no would have meant that he supported the deaths of 44,000 Americans each year, and that he is not a pro-death rep.”

“1. loss of all caucus privileges including any committee or sub-committee leadership posts.
2. placement on useless insignifican committees
3. run candidates against them in primaries
4. demand that no Democrat support them for any election bid for any office EVER
5. run anti-ads in their districts from now until election.

and then, explain to the public how they SUPPORT the deaths of 44,000 fellow Americans every year.”

“exactly. it is cheaper to dump the older employees and hire the young at 1/2-1/3 the pay. And to pay the top brass millions upon millions for making that decision.”

“he brought them on. he deserves to lose by the forces he unleashed. he went against principal to run with a totally-unqualified person. he already has shown his ego is bigger that the viablility of the USA. i have no sympathy for him. time for him to retire and spend Cindy's money. At least he is qualified for unlimited government-paid-for gold-plated lifetime medical care [unlike the rest of us], as he has had for his entire life. what is he worried about? he can pontificate from afar and be ignored without taking up space.”

“it IS a political event : to convince Blanche that since she gets low cost, lifetime, gold-plated health insurance for her and her family [as does Clinton], she should have some compassion for those who don't and maybe, just maybe give the rest of us achance at living. If she is the only "Democratic" holdout, she is no Democrat to me and the fight should begin to oust her and never let her be elected as a Democrat ever again. If she voted against Hillary's plan, Bill would have shunned her like a __________. so it is political.

In any case at least keith Obermann brought some medical care tyo those Arkansasians that are in dire need. Bravo to him. He has a heart.”

“there are company plans and company plans. big companies with clout have low rates; small companies are treated like dirt. most likely, employees of small companies will be able to get REAL insurance via the exchange rather than minimal, useless stuff that their employers can afford [negotiate with big insurance.­]. Most small company plans are probably below the level of the plans that will be on the exchange. This is a big step forward, allowing workers to get real insurance, not only that minimalist case that their employers deign to give them.

Of course, time will tell. Of course exchange plans will be more expensive than that of a 50,000 employee company - that is why we need single payer. At least Hillary's plan removed this discriminatory aspect of insurance. By definition, people who are working probably are healthier than those who aren't. That is why we need community ratings. That will level the playing field. Of course, once it is publicized that these exchange policies are 2-5X more expensive, there will be a political repair. Maybe require the exchange policies to be only 5% above those on the federal exchange. Now that would be a real reform!!!!”

“actually ACORN caused an oak tree epidemic, and the vaccine is tainted with squirrel.”

“so, lower the rents. they don't seem to come down even after a default and bancruptcy. maybe they were set too high to begin with.”

“you should also look into Ayn Rand's rape complex. Her books reek of it.”

“actually even that can be compromised: allow only one person to buy it. why give the other eleven people a chance at living?”

“then we will all have Mississippi policies that don't cover anything. The low regulation states have policies with so many loopholes that breathing is a pre-existing condition and not covered.”

“Reich, you worked for them. you know they are all bought by the special interests. Why are you surprised? Remember, the congresspeople already have lifetime, low-cost, gold-plated insurance. No claim has ever been denied and sustained for them. Why would they want to change that? Why would they want to deny themselves millions in campaign contributions, guarenteed jobs lobbying after they "retire" or the public gets too concerned and throws them out.

How could of it turned out any other way? Even the supposed lure of SAVING BIG MONEY for the government wasn't of interest even to the deficit hawks.”

“we already know that whatever is passed will not be enforced. Even if it were [and I only add this option to be complete], the penalties are self-defeating. The only real "reform" would be an absolute ban on banks, etc. donating money to any politician, political organization, etc. This would need a constitutional amendment. Anything less still allows them to buy their way out of anything as they have done in the past.”

“you are right. they "earn" the bribes, payoffs, and perks from their REAL employers.­..”

“and remember, congresspeople have LIFETIME, LOWCOST, GOLD-PLATED insurance for themselves and their families. They don't care about the rest of us, merely themselves. Not one, not even the most ardent red-baiter from the most backward states has even hinted at offerring to give up his/her insurance, or play by the rules the rest of us are required to live with. NOT ONE.

[their equivalence of COBRA continuation is forever. their rates are far far far less than any individual in the state they reside in, their coverage is total and complete and no insurance company has ever denied coverage to any of them -- they know better! just a threat of a congressional investigation is all that need be said, and it has time and time again.] Take all that away [since quite frankly it is a bribe, and bribery is illegal...­., and this bill would be passed in seconds. The words greed, hypocrisy, venal, and crook are all too insufficient to describe most of them. Heartless, craven, are too weak also. But they are thick-skinned, as long as they get theirs.”