serena1313's Comments (766)

“Where has McCain been? Obama has bent over backwards to get the Republicans on-board.

President Obama has on many occasions met with the GOP leaders in the WH. He talked about the concessions he was willing to make, but when Obama asked what they were willing to give in return their answer was literally nothing.

Not only have the Republicans trashed healthcare reform, lied to the public and used fear mongering to scare senior citizens they took a 180 degree turn on their own ideas that had been added to the bill.

Apparently McCain forgot about the Gang of Six assigned to negotiate a healthcare bill. It was comprised of three Democrats and three Republicans: Enzi, Grassley and Snowe who did nothing but delay and delay and delay for months on end. Never mind that over 100 of their ideas were added to the bill they still refused to vote for it.

If McCain had actually made an effort to work in a bi-partisanship way he might have some credibility, but he cannot even acknowledge the fact that Republicans refuse to negotiate or even act as a loyal opposition party. McCain's arrogant hypocrisy knows no bounds.”

“You are absolutely correct. Blaming Obama for weakened, watered-down bills that get passed in the senate is reflexive. The real problem is that America's political system is broken. Between centre-right Democrats (Baccus, Nelson, Stupak, etc...) and the Republicans' ruthless opposition it is a wonder anything gets passed.

If progressives and liberals stay home during the mid-term elections, then we can forget about changing the status quo.”

“Mosby come on do you really believe Iran would commit instantaneous suicide? The US would annihilate Iran in a New York second. Iran has not attacked another nation for over 200 years and is not about to now.

If Iran did acquire a nuclear weapon, considering the close proximity of nuclear-armed countries such as India, Pakistan, China, Russia and Israel, it would be for deterrence or defense.

Furthermore Iran is a signatory and in full compliance with the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) whereas Israel has an arsenal of 300-400 nuclear bombs is not a signatory.

Bombing Iran would be a willful, immoral, reprehensible distraction that would do nothing but bring massive death and incite deeper hatred against America and Israel. But Limbaugh, being the hothead he is, does not care about that.

It is easy to start wars; it is much more difficult to communicate diplomatic wisdom. The former displays weakness, the latter, strength. Real solutions are found thru communication, diplomacy and negotiation. In contrast war feeds the very thing it set-out to destroy. Security and safety necessitates respect for human rights and the rule of law to achieve what war cannot.”

“Reconciliation only allows budgetary items to be in the bill. To go through reconciliation means losing insurance regulations, delivery reforms, etc... It would also require going back to the drawing board which gives more time for the opposition to work against reforming healthcare.”

“Yes I know that. It is frustrating.”

“I agree that he could have used the pulpit more wisely, but that would not have changed the reality in the Senate.

And I agree with you on 99%. Where we diverge is tort reform. I live in Texas. We were promised lower insurance rates if we passed tort reform. Our insurance premiums did not go down, they went up.”

“PhARMA agreed to cut $80 billion in costs over the next ten years. Insofar as importing drugs the FDA just got funding to address the safety concerns and will start putting an infrastructure in place to import drugs from Canada. (to sell drugs in the US, overseas manufacturing facilities are required to meet the same standards as here.)”

“And exactly how was he supposed to do that?

Lieberman had supported the Medicare buy-in, but changed his mind at the last minute.

Since the Democrats need 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster there is no one else.”

“I agree.

Furthermore people are rejecting a bill that has not even gone to conference where it will (hopefully) be improved on. That is IF it makes it to conference.”

“Like most Iam disappointed, but Iam also not going to abandon President Obama.

Iam not sure exactly what Obama could have done to get Lieberman or any of the others on board. With the Republican obstruction and opposition to every piece of legislation Obama and the Democratic caucus have been forced to make compromises with centrist Democrats and/or the only two centrist Republicans.

For instance Senator Nelson is the 60th vote on healthcare reform, but has now decided not to vote for it. The bill itself is not a bad bill, but it certainly needs to be improved upon. At least 30 million people would have had health insurance. However now that Nelson has thrown a monkey wrench into the process healthcare reform may be jettisoned. Placing the blame on Obama is misguided.

Iam not giving up on our President.”

“In every respect the government is supposed to protect the health of our economy and the welfare of its citizens.

Those who promote deregulation ignore the human element: the market place, businesses and government cannot operate without human direction. When left to their own devices and with human nature being what it is temptation is hard to resist. Unfettered by regulations and oversight bankers, lenders and financial leaders got careless, reckless, greedy and took unnecessary risks. As a result overnight $40 Trillion disappeared in one fell swoop.

Regulation and oversight are the means necessary to keep the economy stable; bankers, financiers and lenders accountable; consumers, investors and businesses protected. With safeguards in place it will be easier to head-off foreseeable problems or perhaps soften the blow of an inevitable cataclysmic event.

But naysayers don't want government interference in any respect (except in our bedrooms) insist on deregulated markets despite the incalculable damage its caused.

However without regulations, safe-guards and consumer protections, who will bail us, the taxpayers, out the next time greedy risk-takers get out of control and the economy tanks? If not the government, who or what then?”

“flossophy

In every respect the government is supposed to protect the health of our economy and the welfare of its citizens.

Those who promote deregulation ignore the human element: the market place, businesses and government cannot operate without human direction. When left to their own devices and with human nature being what it is temptation is hard to resist. Unfettered by regulations and oversight bankers, lenders and financial leaders got careless, reckless, greedy and took unnecessary risks. As a result overnight $40 Trillion disappeared in one fell swoop.

Regulation and oversight are the means necessary to keep the economy stable; bankers, financiers and lenders accountable; consumers, investors and businesses protected. With safeguards in place it will be easier to head-off foreseeable problems or perhaps soften the blow of an inevitable cataclysmic event.

But naysayers don't want government interference in any respect (except in our bedrooms) insist on deregulated markets despite the incalculable damage its caused.

However without regulations, safe-guards and consumer protections, who will bail us, the taxpayers, out the next time greedy risk-takers get out of control and the economy tanks? If not the government, who or what then?”

“That ought to alarm anyone who thinks staying home in 2010 is a good idea. If liberals and progressives refuse to vote, then nothing will get done not even watered down legislation will get passed.

If the Republicans do somehow (god forbid) gain back majorities in either House or both they will try to turn the clock back. Then Americans will suffer even more than now.

Furthermore Republicans are still in denial. They refuse to admit their policies have not worked. Now that the gauntlet has been laid down, where only the candidates who pass the GOP purity test are deserving of votes who knows what will happen. Given how much the ultra right is fired-up it is possible they could win more seats and they'll never change which is why sitting out the election doesn't make sense.”

“Senator Feingold is a gem. I was hoping he would have run for president, but he is probably too progressive for the general population, although I don't know why.

At any rate whenever conservatives give press conferences, hit the TV talk show circuits, etc... I have wondered why the democrats are not out there rebutting their falsehoods and lies. Granted they have gotten better at it, but they still need to do it more often because a lot of democratic and independent voters who only hear one side buy into the republican's BS. And by the time the democrats do (if they do) counter it, it is generally too late -- the story has already become conventional wisdom.

Look at what happened in the healthcare debate over the summer. Thankfully the democrats jumped in before it was too late. Nevertheless they should have done so sooner IMHO.

Good for Russ. We need more like him in Washington.”

“mockley

Iam really surprised that a Canadian hospital would ask someone as diametrically opposed to Canada's hc system as is Sarah to come speak. Apparently Macaluso, the guy who booked her, said her fee is around $200,000.

Are there any Canadians who really have an interest in hearing her speak?

If Sarah starts railing against Canada's "socialist" hc system, abortion rights etc. I would tend to think that would embarrass the hospital that is hosting her speech not to mention Canada !”

“You are absolutely correct: there is no "free" market. Government is supposed to serve people, not corporations. However Washington has lost sight of the fact that people and corporations can mutually benefit. But as it is set-up now the free market is pushing workers down and destroying the chance to improve their lot in life.

Granted businesses are in business to make profit. Corporations complain they cannot compete on a global level if they have to pay Americans high wages so they go to foreign countries where labour laws are basically non-existent. Their employees including children are forced to work long, long hours for pennies on the dollar under horrendous working conditions. As a consequence corporations have not hesitated to use this leverage to force American workers to accept lower wages especially during the current economic situation.

This is unlikely to change as long as candidates have to raise millions of dollars to get elected. That is why I strongly advocate campaign finance reform first because I doubt our politicians have the political will to reform "free"-trade. Otherwise jobs and wages along with our lifestyle in America will keep declining. And upward mobility -- which is already at a standstill -- becomes a thing of the past for everyone everywhere.”

“Thank You. And yes I agree if Howard Dean, Wiener, Rockefeller and a few others are saying good things about it, I do have hope. Didn't Dean say something tonight, too, about the PO had been so watered down that it would not be effective.

What worries me though is the bill may not be filibuster-proof. So if this bill does not get through to conference what then?”

“Shouldn't we hold-off making a judgment until we know exactly what is in the Senate version first?

Personally I thought Pelosi sounded reasonable. If it turns out that there is a better way of containing costs and keeping insurance companies accountable, then great. We'll just have to wait and see what is in the bill. Furthermore we don't know yet what the CBO score is either.

However I do suggest we need to keep the pressure on our Senators and Congressional reps to get the best bill possible that helps everyone.”

“Well said... and fanned”

“Great piece Dave. I cannot help but get frustrated as h.e.l.l. with our politicians' and the media's lack of integrity. The hypocrisy, the falsehoods, lies and deceptions abound.

What passes for journalism today is nonsensical BS. Newspapers print commentaries, opinions, editorials that are not even based on facts. The latest example is the WaPo published Palin's op-ed on climate change. On the most part cable "news" show hosts, pundits, journalists just make stuff up, exaggerate trivial issues, make mountains out of molehills, elevate people like Sarah Palin, allow politicians to make the most inane and insane remarks without questioning or challenging them on it ... the list goes on and on and on...

And equally or maybe more frustrating are the audience members who take what they say as gospel.”

“I understand this is extremely important to all of us, however, we do not know yet what is actually in the bill.

The public option may have been renamed or maybe it has been eliminated altogether or perhaps replaced with something else (hopefully) to keep costs down. If it doesn't people are going to be rightfully angry.

Until we know whether this ends up as another huge giveaway to the insurance companies or if it is designed to help the people of this country, let's take a breath and not freak out.

.”

“DaveyNC

The idea that criticism is the equivalent of hatred was a Karl Rove invention purposely used as a way to stifle opposition and keep debate at a minimum. Critics (mainly democrats, liberals) were fiercely attacked even called traitors and dissent was equated to hatred and at times referred to as treasonous. So by defining critical assessments of Bush's policy decisions as hate-speech and labeling dissenters Bush-haters, Rove managed to skillfully turn political discourse into an illogical, unintelligible rancorous street fight.

Sarah along with her supporters tries to silence her critics in much the same way.

While I agree rude and inappropriate comments have been made on both sides, please re_member disagreement, scrutiny and/or criticism do not constitute hate-speech and should never be defined as such. They are necessary for a healthy democracy.

If we cannot voice our opinions, disagreements, criticisms without attacking one another or engage in civil, intellectual dialogue without resorting to a street fight driven by ignorant, ideological certitude we'll never solve the major problems facing the country.”

“John McCain was on a tirade complaining that he did not know what the deal is regarding Medicare cost-savings and Baucus was merely trying to explain it to him.

However it appears that McCain had no interest in learning "what the deal is" he just wanted to rant instead. So it is no wonder that McCain is one of the least informed Senators in the Senate. He doesn't listen; he throws tantrums over things he knows nothing about.”

“Apparently John McCain has forgotten about the dozens of lobbyists he hired to run his campaign last year and the millions of dollars he's raked in from lobbyists.

McCain is so quick to anger; he's had a problem with it his entire life. As a child he would hold his breath until his face turned blue and passed out. Even his long-time friend, Sen. Thad Cochran (R - Mississippi) had this to say last year: "[McCain] is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me." In this particular video, however, McCain comes off as a pussycat compared to his usual rants.

McCain sails whichever direction the political winds are blowing. He'll say anything that is politically convenient. It is difficult to keep up with the number of times he has taken a stand on an issue only to do a 180 later. Just a year ago McCain was for cutting the waste in Medicare, now all of a sudden he is against it, but before that he wanted to privatize Medicare. He was for immigration reform and energy reform now he is against both. Those are only 3 examples out of many many more.

How can you trust a man who does not stand on principle or truth?

Simply put John McCain is an "erratic hotheaded" hypocrite.”

“Senator Sanders, I agree it is time for someone new.

While Bernake did manage to ward off an economic collapse, we still don't know how much tax-payer money he dolled-out to other countries or even what agreements he made. What we do know is that Bernake sent half a trillion dollars to central foreign banks, but admitted he has no idea what those banks did with the money. Some are inclined to believe the amount could be several trillion dollars. ♠ Although Bernake's adamant opposition against auditing the fed has merit, under the circumstances the pros outweigh the cons.

Furthermore it is absolutely baffling why bankers and financial leaders have not been investigated. Because what they did caused a $40 trillion loss of global wealth and 100 million people worldwide to lose their jobs while taking 100s of billions of dollars in bonuses is nothing short of criminal. Yet they've stepped up their lobbying efforts to kill finance reform.

The US cannot afford to bail-out the world again which is only a matter of time before another financial crisis occurs. Since Bernake is unwilling to do what needs to be done, he needs to be replaced ... the sooner, the better.”