Kennedy Returns to Senate for First Time Since Cancer Diagnosis, Breaks Filibuster
EmailABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Sen. Ted Kennedy, still with his mane of silver hair, but recovering from brain surgery and in the midst of chemotherapy treatments returned to the Capitol Building today to help Democrats break a Republican filibuster of a bill to keep a pay cut for Medicare doctors from going into effect.
The Senate chamber erupted in cheers and standing ovation as walked on the floor for the first time since May. Republicans walked across the aisle to shake his hand even as he voted to break their filibuster.
WATCH VIDEO OF THE KENNEDY’S RETURN TO THE SENATE HERE
It’s a fitting bill for Kennedy to return for. He is chairman of the Senate Committee that handles health policy and the bill deals with payments to doctors who treat Medicare payments. It’s unclear if Sen. Kennedy is treated under Medicare himself, but at age 77, he would certainly qualify.
"Illness and age know no party boundaries," Kennedy said of his return and vote in a written statement. "The 44 million Americans who rely on Medicare to meet their health care needs are both Democrats and Republicans. Like all Americans, they have worked hard all their lives. They’ve raised their families. They’ve built our towns and cities and farmed the land. They’ve served in our military. We owe them so much for the part they have played in making America a great country. So today I proudly cast this important vote for them – a vote to keep the Medicare program strong and effective for the future."
After voting, Kennedy paused with is wife, Vicki, and son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-RI, on the Capitol steps to wave to supporters. He said "I’m feeling better," and that he would be "coming back to the Senate some time hopefully not too far away."
They nearly ran headlong into another Kennedy, Caroline, who was on Capitol Hill with Sen. Barack Obama, presumably as part of his vice presidential search team.
Back in the Capitol building, leaders from both parties were praising Kennedy for his return under duress.
"I’ve never seen a more moving minute then the time that Kennedy walked on the floor today," said the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid of Nevada.
"He surprised us all," said an emotional Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., one of Kennedy’s closest friends in the Senate. "Ted’s not in the habit of listening to doctors. I’ve been here in the senate 27 years and I don’t recall a moment like this one."
Democrats fell one vote short of passing a Medicare bill last month. While the bill got bipartisan support in the House and passed overwhelmingly there, Republicans in the Senate wanted to put their mark on the bill and blocked it.
Senate Democrats had been trolling all week for another Republican to support the bill – 9 Republicans voting against the filibuster had brought them within one.
Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democrat in charge of counting votes, gave a speech on the Senate floor earlier today with a large poster, which read "1 vote."
"We need one more Republican vote," Durbin pleaded. "One more."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid admonished his colleagues just before the cloture vote, "As I look across the aisle to my friends, the 60th vote is there," he said.
They ultimately got more than one. After Kennedy cast his vote and it became clear that Democrats could break the filibuster, ten Republicans who voted against the Medicare bill in June switched positions against the filibuster today.
"There was not a person who was not thrilled to see Sen. Kennedy back and looking so good," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Tex., who supported the filibuster in June but voted against it today.
The bill ultimately passed comfortable margin to overturn a promised veto from President Bush.
Republicans who oppose the bill say the Medicare bill will hurt private insurers who target those who qualify for Medicare. Democrats pay for stopping the 10.6 percent pay cut for Medicare doctors by cutting payments for Medicare Advantage, modeled as a market-based alternative to Medicare.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Leader, said Republicans should not be blamed for cutting the doctors fees because Democrats won’t agree to a short-term fix while they debate a compromise in the Senate.
"Democrats don’t want a compromise. They don’t want a long term extension of current law. They don’t want a short term extension of current law. Yet they’re not to blame for this pay cut for Medicare?" McConnell asked rhetorically.
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Sorry if I am thick, but did the 10.6% pay cut pass or was it defeated?
Posted by: quickphil1943 | July 9, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
Yes, it passed.
Kennedy’s vote persuaded more republicans to join in the “yea”.
Thank God for that, I was beginning to plan a revaluation of all my medicare patients.
Posted by: John | July 9, 2008, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
Wow! So MDs get a 10.6% pay cut when treating medicare patients. I am a medicare patient, I sure hope that my MDs will still treat me.
Posted by: quickphil1943 | July 9, 2008, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
This is what wrong with America. This crook is a disgrace to human race and he gets elected again and again in Massachuset.
Posted by: crookedpolitician | July 9, 2008, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
Thanks to Senator Kennedy for make the vote happen for medicare.
Gracias Ted, we like you in Laredo,TX.
Posted by: Alex Quintanilla | July 9, 2008, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
I think I see a little confusion here. The bill DID pass. This happened with Senator Kennedy’s help. This means that the doctors are NOT GOING TO GET A 10.6% pay cut. This is a good thing for medicare health care providers and patients. However it is not good for Advantage policies from the insurance companies. I hope this clears up any mistaken perceptions. I personally don’t agree with Senator Kennedy most of the time, but this does not make him a crook.
Posted by: Truth Hurts | July 9, 2008, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
I’m so proud to see him back. I would love to see more backboned-people standing up for what they believe in and what the think is right for America. Go Ted!
Posted by: Kennedy Supporter | July 9, 2008, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Senator Kennedy was able to vote despite being treated for brain cancer, but McCain hasn’t had time to vote since April 8, 2008.
Apparently, running for president leaves McCain too tired for little things like voting.
http://www.StopThinkVote.com
Posted by: Tally, FL | July 9, 2008, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm
Is that old geezer still living?
Posted by: Neal | July 9, 2008, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
Isn’t it wonderful that billionaire Mr. Ted Kennedy, Senator on the coat-tails of his older brothers, Former President JFK, and Former U.S. Attorney General, appointed by JFK, has what most of us cannot afford, even in a life or death situation……
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
gee…..I wonder who is paying for HIS?!
Posted by: Piza Pie | July 9, 2008, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Wow…this is great…Congress has a 9% approval rating but they applaud this guy for surviving Chemo and doing something that Congrsss does very little of…VOTING!!! Do they get lollipops if they show up on time too????
Posted by: Gry | July 9, 2008, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
I cannot believe the courage of Ted Kennedy – are any of you going through chemo right now – how many of you have had brain surgery – yet you spout out crap like 2-year olds. What in the he11 is the matter with you people? It does not make any difference what party you belong to – it is the courage exhibited by Senator Kennedy today and the respect of his colleagues who gave him a standing ovation – your crappy, uncaring comments are not even worthy of making it past the moderator.
Posted by: sandy | July 9, 2008, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
Isn’t it great that the Senate can cut Medicare payments to doctors and hospitals for those of us who worked and paid in to SS for 40 years. Yet these same doctors and hospitals are forced to treat illegal immigrants and not get paid one cent for the effort. That does not seem fair to me. The doctors and hospitals should have been given an increase based on actual medical costs. No wonder Americans give Congress such low marks.
Posted by: Mary | July 9, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Thats great, I’m glad he’s back.
awakeontime.net
Posted by: Davon | July 9, 2008, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
Ted Kennedy should be commended for his stand on Medicare Payments to Physicians.
However, I am thoroughly disgusted with this country giving money to every nation in the world for various causes. We need to support our own People. THERE ARE Americans who are without health care because of affordability AND THAT IS A DISGRACE TO THIS COUNTRY. We need to take care of our own people who built and made this country just as Senator Ted Kennedy expressed.
Posted by: Martha Smith | July 9, 2008, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
MD’s will still treat you just as they did before….only now, the whiners wont be gouging you as much as they did before. Seriously, our entire medical establishment is corrupt, and needs to be completely tossed out and replaced with something better.
Posted by: Ann | July 9, 2008, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
Thank you Alex. I finally get it . . . a yes vote defeated the 10.6% pay cut. Got it.
Posted by: quickphil1943 | July 9, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
I stood up and cheered! Senator Kennedy cares enough about this country to come out when seriously ill. I am the owner of a Healthcare Billing agency, and have been watching this very closely. I have assisted doctors in receiving reimbursement from medicare for over 20 years. I have personally witnessed the amount of quality time doctors spend with elderly patients, the rising overhead, and the rapidly decreasing reimbursements. If this 10.6% cut had gone through, I am positive many decent physicians would have HAD to refuse to see new Medicare patients. This is our future. Thank you Ted, and all who voted this bill through.
Posted by: MaryLayton | July 9, 2008, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
Senator Kennedy is an example to us all. He could have skipped the vote and no one would have thought any less of him, but he got out and voted and made a difference. No matter what you think of him or of his politics or his history, you have to admire his courage to get out when others wouldn’t have. Thanks, Ted. And God be with you.
Posted by: KC_1971 | July 9, 2008, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
Wow amazing how many people with strong nasty opinions here are completely clueless as to what is going on!
This was a vote to RESTORE funds to doctors to encourage them to continue to treat Medicare patients.
The Republicans instead wanted the money shifted AWAY from our doctors and TO the insurance companies who give Republicans $$$ for the ads we see during their re-election campaigns.
Senator Kennedy, in spite of his recent brain surgery and energy-sapping chemotherapy, rode into town like a hero and rescued the Medicare funding and broke the Republican filibuster.
[Then some principle-less vote grubbing Republicans switched their votes so no one can say that they blocked the bill-- but they DID block the bill as they would not vote for it until Kennedy supplied the 60th vote and it was clear it would then pass anyway.]
Posted by: Lynn | July 9, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
Tell Kennedy to go back home and die already! Congress doesn’t need him hobbling, drooling, and stammering away in his monotone, re-tarded Boston accent. Kennedy’s time is over. We don’t want his old blood contaminating our new path. The doctor said Kennedy gained 30 IQ points after they cut part of his brain out.
Posted by: S_Temper | July 9, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
Of course the Senate would cheer for Kennedy…the senator who has done the most harm of all senators to the Republic in the past 30 years. I wish Socates was alive and well to question this old fool.
Posted by: roger king | July 9, 2008, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
Tell Kennedy to go back home and die already! Congress doesn’t need him hobbling, drooling, and stammering away in his monotone, re-tarded Boston accent. Kennedy’s time is over. We don’t want his old blood contaminating our new path. The doctor said Kennedy gained 30 IQ points after they cut part of his brain out.
Posted by: S_Temper | Jul 9, 2008 8:05:58 PM
Same way I feel about McCrazy. Thanks for articulating it.
Posted by: KS KATTY | July 9, 2008, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
Thank you, Sen. Kennedy. This was a vote for ALL Americans!
Posted by: Steve J. | July 9, 2008, 8:54 pm 8:54 pm
Sandy…wake up. Kennedy didn’t show one ounce of courage today. He arrived to the Senate to celebrate himself in the spotlight once again. Kennedy has been the Anti-American for the past 40 years of my adult life. Kennedy, “The Worse” in our nation’s history. Goodbye Teddy.
Posted by: roger king | July 9, 2008, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
Sandy -
The pseudo-conservatives are blinded by ignorance and hatred.
Posted by: Steve J. | July 9, 2008, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
More proof here that many supporters of the GOP are the worst Americans ever!We know who you are:Bush and Cheney fans and big fans of Rush and Rightwing hate radio. Hitler and Stalin give you guys a big thumbs up from HELL!!!!! There are very proud of you!
Posted by: AJ | July 9, 2008, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
roger king – I concur with Steve J’s statement – “pseudo-conservatives are blinded by ignorance and hatred.” You are a prime example!
Posted by: sandy | July 9, 2008, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
This is one of the few times I agree with Kennedy. His courage is no greater than those cancer patients I see on a daily basis. Unfortunately too many of them lately have been children. (Home health Nurse). As for his chemo, if the media reported correctlly he is taking an oral form of chemo that does not have the side effects of IV chemo. His side effect is most likely to be fatigue from the radiation.
Posted by: kaye | July 9, 2008, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
Sandy: Your post are always filled with bitterness and sarcasm for Republicans, McCain, and anyone else who disagrees with your personal opinion . How dare you call McCain a “chicken through and through”. I ‘d bet my last dollar, if McCain would have been driving “Mary Jo” she’d at least be around to take advantage of Medicare. You get what you give in life ! McCain 2008
Posted by: Isabella-789 | July 9, 2008, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm
Wonder what kind of vote Kennedy would have made if he was on medicare especially now with the treatments he is going to go through, my niece is going to med school and is going into just that type of surgery and now if your old and on medicare your DR. is going to lose money when he spent over 1/2 million dollars for the education to treat people regardless of age. there is something wrong with this picture, but then the congressinal people will never use medicare so what do they care.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | July 9, 2008, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
I’m no Kennedy fan, but I am thankful that his vote helped prevent the doctor fee cut from taking effect. Another article on this issue discussed the effect the cut would have – doctors refusing to take Medicare patients, doctors having to close their practices, things of that nature. It sounded like the rural areas and, obviously, the elderly, were going to be hit very hard. We have enough people in this country without health insurance. There is no need to add millions more to that group.
Now, if we could get Congress off its ass to do something serious about the health insurance crisis in this country. Screw party politics – it would be nice if these porky senators and Congressional representatives would focus on the real issues instead of their pork-barrel and lobbyist favorites. Most of them seem to have forgotten who they really represent (this goes for both parties, because both sides focus more on party politics than doing what’s right and best for this country and its constituents).
Posted by: JustMe | July 9, 2008, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
it was very touching to see both dems and reps applauding him.
Posted by: kath | July 9, 2008, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
Isabella-789 – no, it is called reality and the demise of the Republican party this election year – thank, God!
Posted by: sandy | July 9, 2008, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
What many do not realize is that Medicare reimbursements to doctors have been basically flat over the past decade. No adjustment for inflation, no nothing. In the meantime, practices have to keep up with inflation, expensive medical equipment and liability insurance. There’s a lot of reasons why reimbursements haven’t gone up, but basically it is because Medicare is going broke and of a flaw in something called the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR).
Anyway, because Medicare is going broke there is current legislation which mandates cuts in reimbursement. For the past several years, these cuts have been averted by last minute “short-term” fixes in omnibus spending bills. The current 10.6% cut was anticipated this past December when the last short-term fix went through and there was another 5.4% cut coming at the end of the year. So, unless something was done, by January 1, 2009 reimbursements would have been cut almost 16%. And again, that’s not counting de facto cuts over the past decade by not keeping up with inflation.
So why does Bush promise a veto of this bill? Because he prefers “Medicare Advantage” programs as they are a ‘privatization’ of Medicare. Medicare Advantage programs pay doctors the same or less than Medicare, probably cost more to administer than Medicare, and increase practice overhead as they routinely request patient charts for review. They are very good for the gluttonous insurance industry, however, and I’m sure they’ve got a great lobby.
Back to the cuts: ultimately, medical practices are businesses and costs continually rise. At some point, which is very close, it becomes impossible to stay in business when the agent reimbursing you keeps paying less. To stay viable, you need to either see more patients (the dreaded ‘wait’ in the doctor office) or reduce the number of patients with that particular insurance that you see. Doctors already do that with Medicaid and the same will happen to Medicare unless it is fixed.
So, it is very disingenuous to offer another short-sighted, short-term fix and what Senator Kennedy did today provided a longer fix for the problem. Moreover it spurred wavering Republicans to change their vote as they were committing political suicide.
Thanks to all the Senators who voted Yes on this one. For the record that includes many Republicans, as noted above, but not Senator McCain.
Posted by: doc | July 9, 2008, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
I take it the Doctors aren’t going to lose any money thanks to the efforts of kennedy. at least he voted , he has 2 main concerns medicine and education something Bush forgot to get that later that is.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | July 9, 2008, 10:12 pm 10:12 pm
As the saying goes… ‘It’s better to have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.’
Posted by: Earl | July 9, 2008, 10:25 pm 10:25 pm
even though i’m a die hard, right wing, conservative nut-job, a label i’ve gotten by the left, i have to admire the old dog for toughing it out, and not lying down on the job. it takes extreme dedication and willpower to rise above this ravaging disease and carry on with your life. job well done senator, godspeed.
Posted by: paul | July 9, 2008, 10:27 pm 10:27 pm
Sandy: First of all. I’m an Independent. I had to re-read that comment about the Republican Party “demise”. Especially since the Democratic Party is starting to resemble the Titanic, I can just picture Reid pushing Pelosi for that last seat. McCain 2008
Posted by: Isabella-789 | July 9, 2008, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
I do not like Ted Kennedy one bit but I am glad he broke the back of the Republicans that are in the pocket of the insurance companies that are so profit oriented instead of patient oriented. We need Medicare strong and secure. The age for Medicare should be reduced to age 50 because employer based Health Care is outdated and it would be a big easy step to National Health Care.
Posted by: Bill | July 9, 2008, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
Mary Jo, Marlyin Monroe, Mary Moxley all thank the Kennedys for their gifts!
Posted by: RiverMan | July 9, 2008, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
He’s a damn good man!
Kennedy extricated himself from the submerged car but Kopechne died. Kennedy said that he made several diving times attempts to free her and, after exhausting himself, rested for 20 minutes. He then walked some fifteen minutes, past several houses, back to the Lawrence Cottage where the party had been held. When Kennedy arrived back at the cottage, he saw the white Valiant his group had rented parked near the front door. The Senator testified that as he came up to the back of the vehicle, he saw Ray LaRosa. Kennedy made no mention of the accident to LaRosa, however, and instead told him to go get Joe Gargan, Senator Kennedy’s cousin and lawyer, and another friend, former U.S. Attorney Paul Markham. Kennedy explained the situation, and although there was a working phone at the cottage, the trio allegedly drove to the scene of the accident to attempt a rescue. The group claimed that the tidal current was too strong and prevented them from reaching Kopechne
Posted by: altec 7 | July 9, 2008, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
This is one vote Mccain should not have missed. He claims to always put country first but again when it mattered most, he skipped the voting process and put our country behind. I want to thank those who voted as well as Ted Kennedy. He really comes from a GREAT family and came even with him recovering from Chemotherapy but Mccain felt it was not important and the irony of it all is that Mccain too is a cancer patient.
Posted by: vuzous | July 9, 2008, 10:55 pm 10:55 pm
Piza Pie You wondered who is paying for Kennedys health care. Senater Kennedy is 77 so he has Medicare as does anyone over 65.
Posted by: pieceof cake | July 9, 2008, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
Martha: You are 100% correct. The United States, is so involved overseas, our government has forgotten the needs of the American people. Being involved in Iraq and messing around near Russia, deploying missiles, is DUMB. I do thank those like the kennedys, for doing their best to help Americans and for doing what’s right for our country.
Posted by: Pointman | July 9, 2008, 11:04 pm 11:04 pm
The family of Mary Jo wishes that Kennedy had called for help before he called his lawyer and PR man.
Posted by: RiverMan | July 9, 2008, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
JFK got us into the Vietnam war, and Ted made sure that we lost the Vietnam war. Now the Democrats are ready to lose the Iraqi war. Do you see a pattern?
Posted by: RiverMan | July 9, 2008, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
Altec 7, are you now suggesting that the Kennedy family is not GREAT? I guess you may even imply that the Mccain family is a greater family than the Kennedys
Posted by: vuzous | July 9, 2008, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
Doc: Doctor’s are treating patients on a revolving-door system. Doctor’s are seeing patients for 10 minutes – max! then referring them else-where, so they can quickly move on to next patient. Doctor’s out-sourcing: blood work, x-ray’s and other testing that could be done on their premises. This results in the patient not only paying the Doctor, but also the facility who drew blood, the radiologist who read the x-ray. So exactly what am I paying the doctor so much for, if he/she, isn’t actually doing anything (not even taking a complete medical history) other than running me all over town ? Pay-Out should be to one Primary Doctor who treats you chronic illness over a period of time, and bogus medical mal-practice lawsuits need to be stopped. But those who have legitimately medical negligence should have their cases fairly heard and they should be compensated accordingly.I would rather have my dogs Vet. medically examine me, at least I get what I pay for. McCain 2008
Posted by: Isabella-789 | July 9, 2008, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Speaking of McCain: McCain’s flip-flops (61 so far) John McCain is a Flip-Flopper extraordiniaire. He is a Flip-Flopper’s Flip-Flopper. McCain’s charge of a “flip-flop” is classic Rovism – he’s attacking Obama for precisely what he himself has done. The very fact that McCain’s charges are baseless serves his purpose. Now that the groundwork has been laid, the average low-information voter, when confronted with a list like the one on the site below will respond “That’s just politics, everyone does it”. McCain’s 61 flip-flop – course I know it wil be outdated by tomorrow morning!
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/16124.html#more-16124
Posted by: sandy | July 9, 2008, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
Someone please call 9-1-1, I think RiverMan has blown an aneurysm. Dude, seriously, your flashbacks are gonna give all the hippies a real bad trip. We get your idiotic point, if there is one.
Posted by: 1percenter | July 9, 2008, 11:21 pm 11:21 pm
RiverMan has definitely flipped out – lots of innduendos – no support as usual! Honestly, 1percenter. I do not think a 9-1-1 call would even help.
Posted by: sandy | July 9, 2008, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
Isabella,
If you read my post, I think you’ve answered your own questions. As for being referred elsewhere for testing: as it turns out Medicare rules are cracking down on providers who give the exact services you want. If a provider sets up a lab or imaging center in their office, they now run the risk of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for equipment and not getting a penny from Medicare.
Your post sort of devolved into a rant and I’m not sure why you want to see your dog’s Veterinarian but with the way healthcare is going that will certainly be your choice. Don’t get upset with me if your candidate doesn’t bother to show up for important votes because they are politically risky. I thought playing both sides of the fence was what Democrats do, not Republicans.
Posted by: doc | July 9, 2008, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
Let’s see – McCain missed the GI Bill vote, the FISA vote, the Medicare vote -yep! hard to straddle the middle with his own party attacking him from both ends – I repeat – McCain is a coward – he does not have the courage to turn up to vote on three such important issues because he is afraid he might “offend” someone? Some leader he would be – afraid of his own shadow!
Posted by: sandy | July 9, 2008, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
Who cares? He’s got medicare. Does anyone still take that crap?
Posted by: drbill | July 9, 2008, 11:42 pm 11:42 pm
drbill – Yes, for many Americans Medicare is the only health protection they have – you have a problem with that? Do not be so smug – you never know what life has in store for you and you may need to depend on Medicare yourself some day.
Posted by: sandy | July 9, 2008, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm
Laughing : ) Me and My List are definitely going to get deleted. Apparently, only SANDY can put up a Flip- Flop List On McCain. .Partial Obama flip flop list (07-09-08): CHANGE #1: Despite Pledging To Withdraw American Troops From Iraq Immediately, Barack Obama Now Says He Would “Refine” His Policy After Listening To The Commanders On The Ground. CHANGE #2: Despite Pledging To Accept Public Financing, Barack Obama Has Reversed His Position And Opted Out Of The System. CHANGE #3: Barack Obama Is Backtracking On His Support For Unilaterally Renegotiating NAFTA. CHANGE #4: Barack Obama Is Considering Reducing Corporate Taxes Despite Having Called Corporate Tax Cuts “The Exact Wrong Prescription For America”. CHANGE #5: Barack Obama Has Changed Positions On The D.C. Handgun Ban. CHANGE #6: Barack Obama Has Shifted From Opposing Welfare Reform To Celebrating Welfare Reform In A Television Ad. CHANGE #7: As A Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama Criticizes The Administration’s Energy Policy Despite Having Voted For The 2005 Bush-Cheney Energy Bill. CHANGE #8: Barack Obama Has Shifted Positions On Nuclear Power. CHANGE #9: Obama Adviser Said Obama Was Not Opposed To An Individual Health Care Mandate Despite His Opposition During The Primary. CHANGE #10: During The Primaries, Barack Obama Pledged To Filibuster Any Bill Which Contained Immunity For Telecommunications Companies Involved In Electronic Surveillance, But Now Backs A Compromise Bill. CHANGE #11: Barack Obama Disagreed With The Supreme Court Decision Striking Down The Use Of The Death Penalty For A Convicted Child Rapist Although In The Past He Opposed The Death Penalty. CHANGE #12: Barack Obama Has Backtracked From His Earlier Commitment To Meet With The Leaders Of State Sponsors Of Terror “Without Precondition”. CHANGE #13: After Saying Jerusalem Should Be “Undivided,” Barack Obama Has Since Backtracked. CHANGE #14: As A Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama Has Backed Away From His Earlier Support For Normalized Relations With Cuba And Ending The Embargo. CHANGE #15: Barack Obama Is Against The California Ballot Measure Banning Gay Marriage Despite His Assertion That Marriage Is Between A Man And A Woman. CHANGE #16: Barack Obama Says That “Mental Distress” Should Not Be Reason For A Late Term Abortion Which Contradicts His Past Extreme Pro-Abortion Views. CHANGE #17: Barack Obama Said He Would Debate “Anywhere, Anytime” But Has Rejected Joint Town Hall Meetings. -MCCAIN 2008-
Posted by: Isabella-789 | July 9, 2008, 11:56 pm 11:56 pm
Doc: I assure you, your post did not address the medical issue’s I was “ranting” about. But, you answered like a typical Doc. Thanks … you no where to send the bill . McCain 2008
Posted by: Isabella-789 | July 10, 2008, 12:00 am 12:00 am
Isabella-789 – be careful what you wish for – you WANT McCain and Senator Obama to debate and have town hall meetings together? McCain cannot keep his sh** together when he is at a town hall meeting of his own – look what that vet did to him in Denver! Please have them together – it will take only one time for McCain to implode (or explode) – no difference really!
Posted by: sandy | July 10, 2008, 12:11 am 12:11 am
Don’t worry, doc, she could find the point at the end of a pencil. She’s angry at the world, apparently just like her candidate.
Posted by: 1percenter | July 10, 2008, 12:12 am 12:12 am
Oh, yes, then there is McCain’s “great” economic plan!
Economists ‘Endorsed’ McCain’s Economics Plan? Actually, No
On Monday, John McCain’s campaign released a statement signed by 300 economists who “enthusiastically support” his “Jobs for America” economic plan. There’s just one problem.
Politico reports, “Upon closer inspection, it seems a good many of those economists don’t actually support the whole of McCain’s economic agenda. And at least one doesn’t even support McCain for president.In interviews with several signatories, Politico found that, “far from embracing McCain’s economic plan, many were unfamiliar with — or downright opposed to — key details. While most of those contacted by Politico had warm feelings about McCain, many did not want to associate themselves too closely with his campaign and its policy prescriptions.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/09/mccains-econom...
Posted by: sandy | July 10, 2008, 12:16 am 12:16 am
stay on topic guys, this was a story about kennedy and healthcare, not an arguement on whose candidate is the best. these partisan attacks are pitiful.
Posted by: peace | July 10, 2008, 12:22 am 12:22 am
Just up on blogs:
“Don’t Hope For A Better Life; Vote For One”
That’s McCain’s new slogan. It’s directly plagiarized from an early Tory party ad in the 1970s created by Saatchi and Saatchi for Margaret Thatcher.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/07/dont-hope-for-1.html
Posted by: sandy | July 10, 2008, 12:25 am 12:25 am
Peace: Your right . McCain 2008
Posted by: Isabella-789 | July 10, 2008, 12:28 am 12:28 am
Geez, why would anyone clap for Kennedy after what he did that poor girl years ago or for that matter for all those rapes and murders of women that seem to fill the Kennedy lives so fully. Thumbs down for the alcholic Kennedy’s…if anyone actually deserves brain cancer—I am glad it isn’t anyone decent.
Posted by: chattyway | July 10, 2008, 12:44 am 12:44 am
Sorry folks. Had a keyboard hang up. My fiance is a senior case manager that deals with Medicare A and B in Southern California. Any of you…and I mean ANY, who have taken the time to research how medicare A and B work and still laud Ted Kennedy are degenerates. Pure and simple.
Posted by: dwiniel | July 10, 2008, 1:00 am 1:00 am
Ted has been one of the few Democrats who have not changed their positions with every changing political wind. I have not agreed with him on everything, but he stands for something. Unlike the Obamas and H. Clintons of the party.
But he is one ugly sucker.
Posted by: Dennis | July 10, 2008, 1:14 am 1:14 am
VUZOUS – The Kennedy Family had only one really great man and that was Joe Jr. If you care to read up on the Family a lot of it is not very pretty. Dirty politics, adulterous and sordid sexuality, and Miss Kopechne being left to die are just a few examples. The assassinations were horrible incidents, but don’t gloss over everything else. Joe Sr. was a ruthless and rich man who made a great deal of money by screwing people out of theirs and indulged in illegal activity. He turned around and used this booty to put his children in power. Camelot was a distracting cinematic creation that we watched as Jack and Bobbie enjoyed Marilyn and others. McCains 23 sorties and captivity in Nam eclipses the PT 109 incident – which I understand an inexperienced boat commander caused. I don’t consider this “Great” at all!
Posted by: altec 7 | July 10, 2008, 1:34 am 1:34 am
Wow…this is great…Congress has a 9% approval rating but they applaud this guy for surviving Chemo and doing something that Congrsss does very little of…VOTING!!! Do they get lollipops if they show up on time too????
Posted by: Gry | Jul 9, 2008 6:40:02 PM
Bush and the republicans have done nothing but thrown roadblocks in the way of progress. I can’t wait until the republicans are truly in the minority without the abililty to cause mischief.
Posted by: brigitte | July 10, 2008, 1:43 am 1:43 am
Bush, must be in anaphylactic shock tonight..He wanted this cut in domestic spending so he would have more money for HIS WAR…And thanks Ted..I know what you are going thru..I just completed 26 weeks of Chemo myself..Life is hell and then you die.
Posted by: Brutice | July 10, 2008, 2:19 am 2:19 am
Should a man with a brain tumour be allowed to vote on the future of this country?
Hasn’t Ted Kennedy and his cancer done enought harm to this country, giving us Barack Obama to deal with.
Posted by: Sylvia Johnsen | July 10, 2008, 2:29 am 2:29 am
I guess McBush, could not show up for the vote today because he was rehearsing his new comedy routine with BUSH..These two are going to be a duo on Saturday Night Live, after the election is over..Both of these duds will have a lot of time on their hands and nothing to do..Bush is the laughing stock of the world and McBush will be his straight man.
Posted by: Brutice | July 10, 2008, 2:30 am 2:30 am
SYLVIA…Kennedy may have a brain tumour that is a fact…BUSH never had a brain..
Posted by: Brutice | July 10, 2008, 2:32 am 2:32 am
Brain damaged leftest gets to look good. too bad the damage he does cannot be un done. After all he is the runt of the litter. And has to keep proving himself when he will never measure up to his brothers.
Posted by: john | July 10, 2008, 2:38 am 2:38 am
For five years now, Medicare has been paying private Medicare Advantage plans much more per enrollee compared with what the same enrollees would have cost in the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program.
It’s time for the Congress to examine whether the extra payments to Medicare Advantage plans are the best use of tax-payers dollars for the beneficiaries the program is designed to serve.
These payments could be used to provide better benefits, like filling in the doughnut hole and reduce out-of-pocket costs for seniors and the disabled, as well as to create a viable alternative to the ineffective sustainable growth rate mechanism currently used to determine the physician payment update.
Traditional Medicare needs to be able to compete on a level playing field with private plans, which requires the elimination of these extra payments.
Posted by: gpawelski | July 11, 2008, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm