Gingrich defends Palin’s ‘death panels’

ugh… I thought this woman quit… I wish she would just close the lips and get lost in those back woods of Alaska. Is there anyone out there who really cares about what she thinks and feels? She has proven several times over she has no substance.

Stop give morons like Gingrich and Linbaugh a forum. Ask them when they last paid for their own healthcasre. Easy for a leech to reject things he is not on the hook for. Ask the imoral x-speaker when he paid his last healthcare premium! All the old republican schills should be removed from the gov. medicare roles & soc. sec. System. They obviously don’t want or need it! Pay for health care with my insurance premiums, I’m sure the cost to me will go DOWN!

Looking forward to seeing newt’s jaw drop when they throw another 10 or more republicans out of the senate coming the 2010 elections.

I watched the segment and I hope many re-watch it. Not only did Gingrich effectively argue against Obama he actually had George interjecting as a partisan for Obama. The video regarding Rahm Emmanuels brother is instructive. I felt as if Gingrich rolled the ball down the alley and knocked over all the partisan pins including Stepanopolis, Begala, Emmanuel, Carvel and Obama. I hope the RNC runs pieces of this segment for all Americans to witness.

If palin believes in the private health care system so much. I hope she has paid up in advance for Trig’s care. More than likely he will be taken care of through public health care. Ideology will not be there for him.

George S. still sounds like he works for the government…defending Democratic initiatives.
Gingrich and Palin speak from the perspective of limited government power and intrusion in our lives. Their views are legit. Why trust the government to make life decisions for your family?
I work in health insurance. My take is drive down costs in medical litigation, drug costs, duplicative services, increase competition among insurers, etc… which WILL lower costs. DO that BEFORE you create a huge new boondoggle of a bureacracy that will be just as ineffective as Medicare and Medicaid in being overly expensive and destabilizing healthcare and cost.
Lou Dobbs had a nice piece on healthcare in Denmark which makes a lot more sense than Obamacare.

One complaint I want to make to whomever maintains this section is the title of this article… “Gingrich defends Palin’s “death panel” — this is sloppy and misrepresentative of the topic. Given ABC’s left slant, not surprising they would tilt the title to give the impression that death panels are Palin’s idea. My college journalism prof would have smacked me down for such a gaff.

The turn out for these town hall meetings show how small the republican party has become. They can fill a “room”. The tea parties are another example. Attendance has been “less than” 1% of the population within a 10 mile radius of the event. This “less than” 1% wants to control the direction for the other 99%. The democrats would be smart to please the people that put them in office. I doubt many that attended these town haul meeting this round voted democratic.

George was defending Obama, is that the task of a reporter? ; is journalism dead?

How do you know when a republican is lying.
Answer: When they open their mouths.

is there any new commentators that will offer fresh views with intellegence than these 2 idiots who news agency’s seem to think they speak for middle class please tell them to go away and shut up

This post perfectly captures everything that is wrong with our media establishment. Newt Gingrich defended Sarah Palin! Newt and Howard went at it! No matter that Sarah’s comments are an offense to anyone with reasonable intelligence – we need to look at George’s show because its gonna be a political cage match! It must be great to speak to such a large TV audience and not have to be responsible for lying, misrepresenting facts and fear-mongering. It no longer matters if we remain ignorant – as long as we are entertained!

Vote strong public health care straight up or down and let the voters make their decision. This is the democrats to loose. They can either represent the people that put them back in control or they can’t represent the people that didn’t vote for them.

“Looking forward to seeing newt’s jaw drop when they throw another 10 or more republicans out of the senate coming the 2010 elections.”
Perhaps you have been living under a rock (or maybe in your parent’s basement blogging for Obama) but the polls are clearly showing that Democrats are in trouble in 2010. Rasmussen has the generic ballot showing a 5 point Republican advantage. even the liberal NPR poll shows a one point Republican advantage in the generic ballot for 2010. This is a huge loss of support from the 2008 election when Demcrats had a 6-7 point advantage.
The American people have seen Obama’s near obsession with inserting government into every aspect of our lives and they are frightened. This is not what we voted for.
It’s not too late for Obama to recover in the same way that Clinton did from a rocky start, however, Obama does not have the political instincts of Clinton. Unfortunately, he truly believes that 2008 was an election that signaled a realignment in the American voting public. It did not; 2008 showed that the American people were tired of George Bush and nothing more.

Republicans have become a bunch of parroting sheep. I used to be one. Now I am an Independent. This party has left me so far in the dust that I am sickened whenever I see one of them on TV.
I don’t agree with much of what Obama has done either, but I am concerned that the Republicans have one mouthpiece and a legion of imitating morons who think they speak for me.

If you see the cost of purchasing health insurance without a company paying part of the fee it is sad. The average increase cost of health insurance that is paid each year is bad. The system is damaged, it needs to be repaired. I don’t every hear people taking about how to fix it, just complaining about what they don’t want.

AOL had an online poll that asked whether they believe, like Sarah Palin, that Obama’s plans for healthcare reform are “evil”. 59% agreed with her and 41% disagreed. When a liberal web site finds that 59% of their members agree with Palin, even with such strong language being used, then you know there are fundamental problems with this reform package.
It is time for Obama to hit the reset button on healthcare reform. Stop trying to railroad an unpopular plan through and start to involve the American people in the discussion. Why should anyone support a bill that our congressmen have not read? Why shoul we risk our childrens lives for a bill that Obama himself has said publicly that he would not rely on if his own daughters were seriously ill? Why is there such a rush to approve a bill now when most of the provisions will not take affect until 2013 (after Obama runs for reelection)?

George caught Gringrich in 3 lies and Republicans are mad about it.

Sarah Palin seems to be the only politician with the backbone to stand up for the American people. I was not a big fan of hers in the 2008 election but if I have to choose between someone who will defend my healthcare and someone who want to hand this choice over to government bureacrats then I will reluctantly support her. This is not an easy choice for me because I don’t believe she is ready yet but this push by the Obama administration to turn everything over to the government (banks, autos, healthcare, energy)is truly frightening.

Heath said “Sarah Palin seems to be the only politician with the backbone to stand up for the American people. I was not a big fan of hers in the 2008 election but if I have to choose…”
It’s sad when an idiot like Palin is the only one speaking for many of us in the middle class in this healthcare debate. I won’t go as far as you and vote for Palin but I sure as heck won’t be voting for Obama again if I loose my current healthcare policy.

What about the Medicare debacle? This entire health care reform business is a fraud. It is just a government means to encroach into the private lives of its citizens and their pocket books. The entire situation is just laughable because instead of fixing Medicare, the government seems to have given up on the program and is now moving to yet another one. Why can’t our government work to fix what is currently broken? No, they seek to find ways and means to continue to tax the hard earned income of every American taxpayer. This faux health care reform is just another Medicare debacle waiting to happen. And Medicare is not the only example of our governments failure. It is but one of many. Other examples include Social Security, VA Health Care, etc. Our legislators should be sent a clear message now. They should be told to fix what’s broken or face the consequences next November.

Gingrich claims that turning over control to the government for anything is unwise. I guess he bases his premise on himself, before he resigned in disgrace, because he was not bright enough to govern as Speaker of the House. What an indictment of himself!

Everyone says that they are afraid to trust the government. They are afraid of rationed care, but what do people think they have now? Every time an insurance company refuses to preauthorize a test or a treatment, they are getting rationed care. For the insurance companies, it’s all about profit and greed. Greed is the most insidious of reasons not to treat a person. The profit motive shouldn’t even be a part of health care.

I watched the segment and I hope many re-watch it. Not only did Gingrich effectively argue against Obama he actually had George interjecting as a partisan for Obama. The video regarding Rahm Emmanuels brother is instructive. I felt as if Gingrich rolled the ball down the alley and knocked over all the partisan pins including Stepanopolis, Begala, Emmanuel, Carvel and Obama. I hope the RNC runs pieces of this segment for all Americans to witness.
Posted by: pauldia | Aug 9, 2009 10:31:41 AM
**********
I thought Newt did a great job. It was clear that George was partisan and definitely an Obama supporter. Howard Dean could not refute Newt. It was clear that Newt had both George and Dean on the fence and neither of them (George or Dean) had any credibility.

How about news-media reform? Provocative headlines and writing like this are the result of the “let’s you and him fight” mentality that constitures today’s “journalism.” I thought I’d try to find some real news this morning on ABCnews.com, instead of some other outlets. I’ll keep looking.

“Supporting Palin’s “death panel” remarks is disgraceful and just shows how low the Republican party has sunk.” – Ted
The AOL poll mentioned above shows that it is more than just Republicans who are concerned. Sarah Palin has just crystalized the issue with a succinct, descriptive, middle-american phrase that resonates with the American people.

Rahm and Eziekel Emanuel are dangerous dangerous people.

It is a well established fact that Sarah palin is an ignorant, bigoted liar who has managed to charm the aging sexuallt deviant old Republican men like Newt. They are both vile, lying creatures who should never be heard from. They do not offer any legitimate ideas just evil, nasty fear mongering. And who in their right mind even takes Newt Gingrich seriously. He is the same vile creature who went on his hogh horse during the Clinton impeachment hearings meanwhile screwing around on the side. Also, did he not dump his sick dying wife to marry some harlot?

not organized….i have to agree with you at least 80%. I don’t know that much about Rahm, but Ezekial is probably one of the most dangerous men of whom’s writings I’ve had the horror of reading. His article in JAMA is jaw dropping and his restatment of his views in 2009 is even more so because he is the man that Obama chose to be the policy advisor for the health care reform. I know why Obama chose him too: If the reform bill is proven to be unpopular, then Obama can blame Emanual. If it proves to popular, then Obama takes credit. He proved that very tactic last week: When Clinton went to NK to try to get the release of 2 criminal journalists, Obama thought it was a fool’s mission. He publicly distanced himself from it, quite loudly saying that this had nothing to do with the white house. Once the mission was successful, Obama is basking in the glory.

Seems most of the people who’ve commented (above) must NOT have actually watched the show. Gingrich most certainly did NOT defend Palin’s comment. He merely ignored it in favor of stating (correctly) that most folks simply don’t trust the government. C’mon folks … give me an exaple of something the gov’t does that’s both effective AND economical (“I’m from the IRS and I’m here to help” – yeah, right).

hey right behind – nice job reporting back the statistics of tea parties reported by the abc/msnbc – I have been to Tea Parties and they are way under counting the numbers – quit relying on the news for your information become educated and find out for yourself.
Thank you to all of the families of our Military – Our family respects and supports you!

Shyla, the politics of personal destruction that you push is not going to help you push this lousy healthcare reform. If you truly want to win public support for it then engage Palin and Gingrich in substantive debate. If all you have to offer is venom then you will lose, deservedly so.

The plan is to scare the stupid undereducated American people.
Republicans are willing to see America destroyed just to make sure Obama does not succeed in anything.
The Republicans were against everything:
1. Against Cars for Clunkers
2. Against the Stimulus
3. Against the Middle Class tax cuts
4. Against the rise in minimum wages
5. Against helping the Car industry
6. Against health Care, keeping it even if you lose your job.
Remember these were the same people who were against:
1. social Security
2. Against Medicaid
3. Against Medicare
4. Against the GI bill (past and present)
Why are southerners still supportting the Republican Party?

Sarah Palin in 100% correct. Going with Obama’s Govt. takeover of our HC is like gettig a ride with a drunk driver(or crackhead-BHO)and going over 100 mph southbound on a northbound freeway–BAM, YOUR DEAD- Say NO TO BHO”s DEATHCARE!

Newt..
Keep The Insurance Adjusters, who Rationed Health Care.
Keep The Big Insurance Companies in the Position & in the Front Row
[16.8% Of The GDP]
An the Insurance Rates are Going to [Climb]
Guaranteed
Note:It was Palin who tried [Unsuccessfully] tried to Block and Deny Stimulus Money Specifically Targeted for [Special Needs Children] and her Majority Ruling Republican State Senate Voted her objections down and Accepted the Money.
Sarah Palin, is a Hollow, Floating, Bubble. She is such a [Victim]…
NOT

Please, please, put out to pasture those tired workhorses Sam & Cokie. The comparison with the energizing and energized panel on Meet the Press was embarrassing.
It’s not their fault that they simply cannot rise above the traits that carried them so far – Cokie’s world-weary skepticism and Sam’s constant wonder that the world does not see the fundamental truths that he perceives so clearly.
But it is your fault that we’re forced to watch and listen to the same bromides that we’ve been watching for a generation. Who knows – maybe an enforced and lengthy sabbatical will give rise to fresh viewpoints and renewed interest on the part, at least, of the viewers in this house.

Did anyone catch how defensive and nervous George became when Newt mentioned Ezekial Emanual? That’s a really soft spot for them–good going Newt! GOP follow suit and expose this guy nationally–they’re trying to keep him under wraps.
Posted by: Debbie | Aug 9, 2009 11:33:22 AM
********
I saw that, George was extremely nervous. Obama is imploding and his support base is declining. George is pulling at straws trying to keep Obama as a positive. Good job, Newt. I loved to watch George and Howard Dean squirm. Americans are refusing Obama and his lies.

OMG! The liberals are quite genius –just kicking the Republicans butts!
How pathetic!
Ya’ll have to do what is good for America and the Americans or else one day—ya all not going to get our VOTES!

It all about elitism the Republican Senators and big business have their own assured health care and money machine, so they employ these poor stiffs to go the the Town hall meetings and destroy health Care, many of these same stiffs are on Medicare and medicaid, this is the Republican way use people to destroy what’s good for them.
This is a campaign against ordinary Americans.

Help, the sky is falling! Sound familiar? No, not really, just the same ole republican political platform when they are not in control.
When they are it’s, “Blessed are we who always know best.”

WD: you say Obama is a Socialist.
Do you accept that Social Security is a Socialist program?
That Medicaid and Medicare is a socialist program?
Therefore we need to force the Government to stop these Socialist programs.

Healthcare is already rationed by insurance companies who determine treatment based on what they will or will not pay for. How can someone like Gingrich who is receiving government funded healthcare for life speak out against government funded health care?

RE: the “death panels”…just wondering how much one will be paid to be a death panelist and where can I apply?
RE: GS talking back to Newt and exposing his lies.
That’s his JOB.
Some days GS does a pretty crappy job doing his job, well most of the media does, but it is one thing to allow a guest to make their point and express their position, it is quite another to let them just spew whatever lies they want. And that’s what old Newt does. He just spews and spews and spews lies all over the place without being called on it. Time the media starts pulling these folks back into reality.

The main reason that these folks are against health care reform is that the greedy money grabbing health care industry – which is no better than the military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about – would be losing a lot on money they ripped off from Americans. So lies, distortions and bully tactics are nothing new for these Kool-Aid Drinking, Goose-Steeping GOP hatemonger’s that think that if it’s on the Internet it must be true. Hello, folks we need health care reform and just think about it – GOP in office for 8 years and what do we get out of it – the mess we’re in right now. If you want it all over again then believe in everything they say without question. When anti-reform groups are funded, assisted and coached by a group that is heavily invested in the heath care industry you have to look at in whose best interest are they thinking about, cause if reform happens they will be out of the deep pockets of blood money they make now.

Where do people get the idea that Obama’s Plan is socialist? He wants to mandate health insurance for everyone at a cost that everyone can afford. Everyone pays for their own health insurance at a price they can afford. It’s like auto insurance a lot of states require you to have Auto Insurance before you can drive. so why not have the same requirement for Health Insurance? People who do not have Health Insurance use the Emergency Room for their main medical care and who pays for that? Everyone who pays taxes. Under Obama’s Plan everyone pays their own health insurance at a price they can afford and families will not use the Emergency Room as their main source of Medical Care.

I read parts of the Waxman proposal and I have to say, it is scary. By the way, it specifically states “special needs”individuals will not be enrolled in the national plan. Thats on page 354 if you care to check. There is a provision for governmnent panel consultants on end of life issues. Hope my nurse is not one who worked at an abortion clinic. Cajuns have a saying about these kind of items. We call them “teetailles” roughly translated means little scary things. After reading parts of this health care plan, I see why people are angry. There are “grosse betailles” in the plan. By the way, that means “big scary things”. When idiology motivates action, there is always unintended consequences. We are seeing it now. Try to understand that angry people are really frightened people without power, not necessarily stupid folk. Just better informed than some. Give it some thought.

Obama’s right hand man on deathcare, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel is one cold blooded arrogant left wing nut job; perfect for BHO’s loony inside team.
-is he part of the 44 czars positions BHO created to bypass congressional approval? Hmmmm…BHO hides so many things from the american public- it’s hard to keep up!

Here we go again on how Palin uses her children to get media attention. Once the media reacts, then she screams bloody murder about her family being exploited. What bothers me is that she is so devisive and the biggest hypocrit out there; but what can you say about a person like Palin who has the intelligence of a gnat. She and Newt are both birds of a feather…losers. Anyone who thinks that Palin could even think about competing with Obama is on crack. She has no idea of what is going on in the world outside of Wasilla. Instead of questions about BO’s birth certificate, make her produce her high school diploma!!

Please join me in sending a message to Washington to end these socialist programs like Social Security, Medicare and health Care.
I know there are many like me out there who want to see these Government programs end, We must stop this because why should i pay for some Retired guy in Florida playing golf.
Say no to social Security!
say no to Medicare!
Say no to health care!

It might help her a tiny bit if she actually read the proposal, but no,she doesn’t read.Newt is an example of what throwing money at education produces.

INDY VOTER….you are speaking of course about you defending Obama…right

Again, I’m questioning HOW a supposedly “devout” christian can repeatedly LIE in public and still look her congregation in the eye every Sunday!!

STOP MEDICARE AND MEDICAID:
I don’t want to pay for somebody hip replacement or to keep some old folks alive, if they can’t afford it then let nature take its course.
STOP SOCIAL SECURITY:
I don’t want to work for old people, living high on my money, let them find their own way.
I have enough money to take care of my family and these old people should too, lets force Obama to stop these socialist programs.

wow,look at all of Obama’s puppets out defending Obama-all on the puppetmaster-georgie show.
if this Obamacarediaster passes, People-get ready to ration your medicine and health care! if you haven’t experienced Medcare/Medicaid-you soon will be and you’ll be screaming for the good old days of telling the gov’t to stay out of your life.
GO private citizen SARAH!

“By the way, it specifically states “special needs”individuals will not be enrolled in the national plan. Thats on page 354 if you care to check.”
No, that is not what it says.
It talks about restrictions on when a special needs person may JOIN the medicare/medicade plan. Which would be at the time of diagnosis OR once a year during open enrollment.
BTW, this is the way it is done with most insurance programs though your employer.

I just wonder if any of you conservative Christians have wondered what would Jesus do.
I bet he’s really, really happy with the way you want to treat the “least of these”.
Shame on you. Shame on Palin and shame on Newt.

How do you know when a Democrat is telling the truth?
Answer: after they have seen the truth and become a Republican.

READ THE BILL. If your leaders is D.C. and their lawyers don’t have the time, it’s up to us. Washington hacks like us best when we are “dumbed-down” and let them and their larger, more-evolved brains set our destiny. We are awakened and we refuse to be marginalized by you.

There may not be a “death panel”, yet.. but couple all of this “end of life” stuff with SEC. 123. HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, and consider that Obama, on tape, wants a complete government take-over of health care… Is it really that far fetched to see this in our near future?

Please remove Cokie and Sam from the show on Sunday Morning. They are the rudest panelists in TV land, always butting in never letting other panelists finish their thoughts and just total boors. Please, please, please.

Please join me in sending a message to Washington to end these socialist programs like Social Security, Medicare and health Care.
I know there are many like me out there who want to see these Government programs end, We must stop this because why should i pay for some Retired guy in Florida playing golf.
Say no to social Security!
say no to Medicare!
Say no to health care!
Americans need to get back to fending for themselves instead of relying on these socialist programs. – Even if we have to force them to give it up by bankrupting the government.

Yikes! Gingrich and I on the same page? Maybe he’s rediscovered his conservative gene?
Palin is spot on, as is Gingrich. Read HR 3200. Steph is right that it does not set-up standards for making the decisions. But it does create the entities that will make the decisions. And who will sit on these committees and boards – Obama appointees, many of whom, if you bother to read, advocate euthanasia, withholding care for less productive members of society and lots and lots of abortions. And if you think all this will only apply to conservatives, you’re only half right. Eventually, once we’re all gone, they’ll need to cut costs dramatically because all the productive members of society will be gone.
If all the workers are government employees and the gov’t has to raise taxes to pay them, who starves first?
BAAAAAA! The wolf is at the door.

GopMom, you know if we were to stop Social Security and Medicare and health Care we the younger workers would pay less in taxes?

The people saying “there are no death panels” . . . “the Republicans are lying” . . . “they are fools”
are like the WWII German populace who said, ‘there are no death camps’ . . . ‘it is mere propaganda lies’ . . . ‘our country would never exterminate people’.
When history repeats itself, it’s thanks to the “I see nothing” liberal ideologs who, like 1939 Germans, and 1939 Imperial Japan, believed their Imperial leader was a “Deity” and must not be questioned for he can do no wrong.
These type of people are blinded by their “Faith” in their political system. Like WWII Germans who still in 1945 were awaiting the ‘secret weapons’ that would win them the war, liberals are putting faith in politics to ‘win them their war’ of dominance over humanity.
The problem with liberals is they see the Presidency as a type of god-like position with supernatural magical powers. This is why they were so disappointed with Bush and this is why even when their guys are in charge, they are still miserable. Liberals assign Divine credibility to the presidency. Which is why when their guy is in charge they are completely blinded by their ideology.
Message to all: “Don’t let your prejudice blind you from the truth.”
(Henry Fonda, “12 Angry Men”)

Obama, campaigned that everyone could have the same Health insurance that Congress has. What about that??? Another broken promise from Obama!! He also said it was just common sense to have a Buy American clause in the stimulus. What happened?? He also said Congressional Bill’s would be on the internet to to view before a vote would happan. WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY????

John writes: bureacracy that will be just as ineffective as Medicare and Medicaid in being overly expensive and destabilizing healthcare and cost.
Medicare and Medicaid are destablizing heatlh care and costs??????
HA HA HA it has made us 37th in the world in health care, that is funny…

For a long time I have advocated on ending Social Security and a a member of the Conservative American Naturalist Society, we think that Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and all other socialist programs need to be closed down, if you are over 65yr and you fail to plan then you just fail and no government help should be given.
If you are over 65yrs and you don’t have private insurance then you take your chances – no government help.
please join us in banning these programs.

Steve Magnanti – You said “Ask the imoral x-speaker when he paid his last healthcare premium!”
I love idiots who don’t have a clue.
Contrary to what many believe Congressmen do not have FREE health insurance. Their employer is the federal government and like many employers, it provides him with an insurance plan from a private insurance company (AETNA, Blue Cross, Health Net, Kaiser, etc). Congressmen have been required to get their health insurance in this manner since passage of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1983. In this case the federal government utilizes the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan to provide a choice of different private insurance plans to choose from, the federal government as the employer pays a portion (approximatly 66%) of the monthly premium and the Congressman as the employee pays the remainder. The Congressman is responsible for any co-pays or deductable payments when service is provided by a healthcare provider. The governments only other involvement with the FEHB is to negotiate rates and benefits for each plan once a year. If you want to view the plans and their limits, deductibles, and co-pays just Google “FEHB” and go to the site and see what the different plans are.
Congressmen do not continue to participate under FEHB unless they meet the requirements to retire and collect a retirement annuity from the government. Additionally if they do not meet the retirement requirements and move to another job they do not take the insurance with them, if they move to another job within the federal government then they can continue their insurance under FEHB.
While I’m on a roll another common misconception is that members of Congress do not participate in Social Security. Once again you would be wrong, federal government employees hired after 1984 and ALL members of Congress no matter when they were first elected are required to participate in Social Security. These same people also participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) which is where they receive their retirement benefits when they retire. The employee has the Social Security (and Medicare) withheld from his check just like you do every pay period. Additionally they have an additional sum withheld which goes into the FERS retirement fund and if he chooses he can have an additional sum withheld and placed in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), The TSP operates similar to a 401k and has several funds which the employee can choose to have his money held in (many federal employees lost money when the economy collapsed as the TSP is mainly in stocks).
The actual retirement for a Congressman is determined by a formula which looks at his salary for the highest three year period prior to retirement and then uses a formula which uses his age at retirement and number of years served. The initial retirement to a Congressman can be no greater than 80% of his final salary. Due to Cost of Living increases over the years and if the retired Congressman lives long enough it is possible that he will eventually reach a point where his retirement pays more than when he was in office, but this is the rare case not the normal case. To achieve retirement the employee must have a minimum number of years (just like the rest of the world) and have a minimum number of years served (just like the rest of the world). Once again if you want to learn more Google FERS and TSP which should get you to the proper pages on the internet, none of this is hidden data it is there for anyone to read.
Bottom line is not that members of Congress don’t care about healthcare because they have outstanding insurance and don’t care about Social Security because they don’t participate. The reason is that if you check the net worth on our members of Congress you will find that 90% of them are wealthy enough that the FEHB insurance or Social Security means nothing to them, they can have better with their own money. As an example when Senator Kennedy underwent surgery at Duke University recently his FEHB insurance did not cover the entire procedure but as it was the best available he paid the remainder from his own pocket.

Gingrich and Palin are 110% correct. Social Security is bankrupt. Medicare is backrupt. VA hospitals are U.S. government run and provide poor care to those who protect our rights and freedoms. What do you think you’ll get. Some nameless, faceless bueraucrat making decisions about who gets healthcare for YOUR family. How is you local Dept. of Motor Vehicels. Now I’ll be on some Obama hit list for disagreeing. Didn’t Pres. Nixon do keep lists on those who didn’t support him? Was he a good President …. no way. This goes beyond Obama. Why won’t the Senate and Congress have the same healthcare for their families? Because they want better for their families. There all elitist who think they are better than the rest of us. Pray to God this doesn’t pass. Clean up Insurance and Medicare fraud. Straighten out Social Security first.

Who said liberals are atheists? Obama is their God. Newt Gingrich just ripped apart their bible and blasphemed their Beloved One – of course George and the liberals posting here are upset.

It cracks me up that when Stephanopoulos tries to interject some reasonable truth into Gingrich’s lie, he’s called a frontman for Obama!
As the Right gets more desperate, they not only get wackier, they wield lies, misinformation, and half-truths for their own benefit better than the DPRK!
The Right doesn’t want change, because THEY’VE already got it good!

The Republican party is in deep trouble when they have a disgraced politician like Newt as their spokesperson. The last time health care was presented by the Democrats the Republican and their dirty interest groups defeated it. It has been downhill ever since. They need to look at the facts of health coverage from other countries – 36 of which have better health care than our country and figure out a better system. At least the Democrats look at the issue. Republicans worry about their guns, religion and money. If they listened to their religious leaders more carefully they would be a little more generous in their caring about the uninsured and would present some helpful suggestions to our president instead of just critizing. They are just a hateful bunch. Probably why they went down in the last election. I like the public option plan – if they don’t like it then they can keep their rich insurance friends in business and keep their own insurance.

what a ridiculous group of people on panel, what a ridiculous show. Who represents the liberal point of view on this panel george? This really best you can do? And not one question to panel about deliberate campaign of mis information by republicans? No challenge to Noonan – to her ridiculous comments about goobledegoop? Put s show together george

Some of you are funny! Newt is not to be challenged! He can make untrue and misleading statements and if George corrects him, in your minds he sticking up for President Obama! Then you make mention of Fair and Balanced, you do realize the only people who call Fox that, is Fox right?

Just ready the language of the bill clearly indicates that Palin is right.
If your not convinced just read the foreign press’s account of the misery and death that are the result of their socialized system.
If you thought Palin quit the natioanal stage than your a complete moron.
She turned over her duties to her second in command so she could be free to get 100 percent involved in the national debates.
Liberalism is now dying a faster death.
Yes, my lefist friends…you should still be very afraid even more so now.

Once again the media plays the lap dog to the political parties (yes both of them) so that the average american can not make an informed decision about this issue. These public shouting matches cover up the fact that the current plan can not work (Dems), and there is no one with the guts to put forth a better one (Reps). I hope America wakes up one day and drives both parties to the unemployment line like the rest of us.

No One is saying there cant be free speech but Palin is lying and Putting Fear in people and arousing ANGER Remember her Hate rallies last year? with people shouting out KILL HIM! And she did nothing about it. All I am saying is the Republicans are treading on DANGEROUS GROUNDS And if they keep this up something bad might happen!

Obama also lied about giving the american public 5 days to look over any new legislation before it was voted on.
Reality; Obama’s been shoving 1,000 page bills down our throats in the dark of night without allowing even the lawmakers time to read before voting on them; 780 billion stimulus (lot of it going to ACORN, UAW, and SEIU..payback to his voting base); Cap N’ Tax (need to tax the hell out of working americans to pay off above bill); and finally deathcare (Karl Marx-if you can control the peoples medicine, you will control the people)…BHO tried to shove this one down our throats ASAP, but a little thing like peoples rights under the Contitution got in the way. Sorry BHO, your Socialist takeover stops here!

jsmith | Aug 9, 2009 12:57:15 PM – Of course there will be Death Panels, but they’ll use a euphemism like “Life Cycle Management Panels.”Abortion and euthanasia: sacraments of the Left.——— There are already “Death Panels” it’s called the board room! Every day an accountant makes the decision who will get care and who won’t! It is amazing to me that the end of life options have you all in a snit! What is wrong with having a living will? It is the most responsible thing you can do for your family, so they know your wishes! You make the decisions it you want all that is medically possible to save your life or if you want a DNR. By the way, what your all screaming about was put in the bill by 2 Republicans! Not Pres. Obama, not Democrats REPUBLICANS!

No matter who is in power, the other side gets a little worried when the party in power starts making big decisions that concern ALL of us. Let the Democrats put in their bill insurances that they are not going to Croak the elderly or challenged and there will be a lot fewer posts like Palin’s. There are over 1000 pages in the legislation and any bureaucrat can add things after it is passed that may discriminate against certain elements of our society. The good of one is the good of all.

“Leaders” of the Right. Interesting how many of their allegations make no sense. None. Zero. Zip. Depressing how many rightwingers swallow the lies hook, line and sinker.

Also, people keep talking like Medicare is strictly a government program but NO one is reminding people that they have paid for medicare everytime they had a paycheck. They paid monthly premiums in the form of deductions from gross pay directly to medicare. All those premiums were paid for for years before they could redeem their benefits. It is not a “free” government program. Folks have paid for it.

Good post Brian!!!
In his first 170 days in office Obama has increased the debt of the government by 901.25 Billion dollars. At this rate he will increase the debt of the Government by 1.82 Trillion dollars in his first year alone and 7.74 Trillion dollars by the end of his 4 year term in office. If he is elected for a second term with the same rate of spending then the government debt will increase by 15.48 Trillion dollars. Since the debt owed by the Government was 10.6 Trillion dollars when he took office an additional 7.74 Trillion will almost double the debt in just 4 years to 18.34 Trillion dollars and at the end of his second term it will have increased to an unthought of 26.08 Trillion dollars. The interest alone on this amount of debt will consume more than half of the entire federal budget. This does not even include what Obama wants to put into healthcare which has been estimated may actually cost upwards of 1.6 Billion dollars by the Congressional Budget Office. This is money that the Government does not have and cannot conceivably have without raising taxes to the point where everyone in the country will be paying a much higher tax rate than they are currently paying. No matter how you want to put it any healthcare reform will require government involvement which will lead to required government spending so the money is an important issue, if it’s not there then healthcare will have to wait until such time as it is available. Obama promised change but this is ridiculous he makes all who came before him look minor on their spending while in office. Time to stop spending and do what should have been done long ago, cut spending which is not specifically authorized in article 1 of the constitution. There is NO money for healthcare, there is NO money for education reform or any other dreams in the upcoming budget. Look at what the government has done to Social Security, Medicare, Public Housing, Chrysler, GM, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Death panels, euthanasia, the frame work from the Democratic policy wonks; includes Rahm’s brother and his papers.
The current democratic plans, do not lower costs. We have several public plans already that are at the root of our health care crisis. Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIPs (not to mentino the VA), have run away costs and all teh other problems they criticize.
If you wnat to cut health costs, then fix Medicare/Medicaid. This will lead to savings across the board. Putting more government where polticians are at these community health panels to make life/death decisions for you is too much government.
Some future congress will need to control spending, thus, they will ration care. It is happening even with the vaulted French and English models.
NO the the public option!

Just think 16% to 17% of our gross national product goes to healthcare, much higher than those countries who have a single payer system. And one in three dollars is not spent on healthcare. My premiums have been increasing 15% each year!
If we had a single payer system no American would find it necessary to pay for the huge premiums (as high, for a family as over $1,000.00 a month, but anywhere from $300 – $600 for inadequate coverage) they are now paying. Even if taxes had to be raised to some degree, people would probably still be paying less, and getting more for their money. Single Payer system is hard to argue with.

VIC (writes)
Look at the UK and their board NICE. The negative effects of rationed care have resulted in the UK having much lower survival rates of common cancers when compared to the US. That is a direct result of people being denied care by these panels thereby creating death.
————
VIC, i was with you until you brought in the UK. Last year I needed an eye operation and I went to a specialist here in the USA and I was told what my insurance would and wouldn’t cover and what co-payment and hospital bills to expect, I just got tired of the crap and flew back to good old England and had it don’t with my little old tattered pink card and an old ID, there was no charge even for the home nurses visit. – That’s what I call a civilized society, VIC.

Well, rightbehind
You neglect to understand the type of Democrat politician that those people who voted them in power are.
They are only for their power–how much they have and how they can keep it.
They won because they lied to garner support form varies groups and now they can’t go forward because of the truth.

I am from the UK and find the panic about a national health care system puzzling. No health care system public of private is perfect – too many people, too many opportunities for mistakes. How many americans are aware that in the UK you can opt for private health care on top of the public system – but only around 10% of the population bother to do so – and most of them are at managerial and executive levels and get their private plan as a bonus package from their employer. The great american public is being misinformed and conned by those vested interests who are currently providing inadequate health coverage at twice the price of anywhere else in the world.

Exxon last quarter profits dropped 66% and their taxes thus dropped 55%. That’s 55% of big oil taxes that the federal government doesn’t have. Gee…if all the BIG companies don’t make profits then who will pay for all this debt?

Cassandra, Please post your W2 for the last 10 years. Lets see how much you make. How much you’ve given to charity. The nation is bankrupt! We have GM (Government Motors) we have our President criticizing Police who did the right thing in Cambridge, Ma. and inflaming racial issues, we have corrupt politicians in NJ and everywhere else and we are to believe these poeple will take care of our loved ones. Your loved ones when the time comes. Please – when monkeys fly out of out butts perphaps. We have no money! Most Americans lost 30%, 40% or more of their net worth in the last year. Why? Government intervention in Home Mortgages, Greedy Wall Street execs, a few terrorists decided to attack us and our Senate and House of Reps along with Busch and Obama trying to give everything away for free for what – VOTES. They all care about their own personal POWER. 50% of people don’t pay federal taxes! Its just not the rich who are greedy but the poor and the lower middle class. I unfortuneatly fall into the categories of those who pay taxes and have lost 30,40, 50% of their net worth becuase of Government intervention and their policies along with greedy Wall Street types. Who will pay for these programs? Clean up Social Security, Medicare and give our Veterans better health care. We are BANKRUPT. Put the nation ahead of politics for a change if that’s within your internal makeup. Be an American first and a political hack maybe down the list some. We just may get out of this mess if we enough people can truely change. By some of these postings – it’ll never happen but the majority of people seem to be waking up and seeing what they are trying to do to this country. God help us.

Shawn S | Aug 9, 2009 1:13:24 PM—Really Shawn, what polls are you quoting? Here’s what the Kaiser Foundation reports: “59% of U.S. residents believe health care reform is now more important than ever, while 37% say reform would be too costly to attempt during the current economic climate, the poll shows. It also finds that about two-thirds (67%) of U.S. residents “strongly” or “somewhat” favor establishing a public health insurance option “similar to Medicare,” with about 80% of Democrats, 60% of independents and 49% of Republicans in favor of such a plan.”

Looking at this from my canadian perspective, the Palin article and resulting ‘discussion’ are simply political efforts to confuse and inject fear into the health care discussion. Injecting fear is a last resort for the side that thinks it is loosing the battle. Better to inform and debate than spread fear and missinformation.

Tedd – Your problem is that under Article 1 of the Constitution Congress is tasked to fund a military. Nowhere in tha Constitution are they tasked to provide health care.

George was defending Obama
No, George was defending the truth. Gingrich was lying. Palin is lying.
Sarah should go out into that wonderful private healthg insurance market and get a quote for coverage of her Down’s Syndrome sticken child. What she would hear is: rejected.

I haven’t always been enamored of Howard Dean, but I believe in this situatation he was inspired, concise, and (sigh) knowledgeable on this issue. He should be put out on the leading edge of this debate by the administration. As a doctor and politician he is uniquely qualified and speaks like he knows what he is talking about & not just a cheerleader for one side or the other. He ate Newt’s lunch.

Interesting that the Republicans haven’t offered anything better. But they’re sure trigger happy when it comes to shooting down someone else’s efforts. If they can’t offer anything better, they should zip it. They’re only hurting themselves come next election. Since Bush’s first term, how many seats has the Republican party lost. The people vote for them. Isn’t that a sign that the people don’t like the job they did and want to do? Or can a Republican give me a good excuse at to whey they keep on losing at the polls? I’d really like to hear it.

sandcrab1612 | Aug 9, 2009 1:22:12 PM – The Tenth Amendment was written to reassure the states that they would remain largely in charge within their own borders. How in the world do you make the leap that it spoke about health care!? By your definition, if you have any family members on Medicare… well you get my drift!

We need the same system of Health Care that House/Senate, along with the rest of the people that work for the Federal Government, have.
We can save all the confusion of new legislation because no one can ‘make up’ whats covered and what’s not. We would already know.

BHO’s blitzkirg to takeover healthcare is not about HC; it’s a trojan horse socialist power grab for as much CONTROL as possible over the citizens of this country. Obama is lying; 83% of americans are satisfied with their HC. Wake up america …don’t listen to Obama’s propanganda!

Jules/Melvin,
these programs like Social Security and Medicare are just plain old socialist programs, we are a Capitalist nation.
If people fail to plan properly and try to rely on this form of socialism we need to force them to be self reliant, there are insurance companies who will insure seniors, everybody pays their way.
I am a younger worker paying for these losers social Security and Medicare and Medicaid – it’s time to stop this.

It is imperative that the GOP face reality and come out of their self made delusional world of their own vile propaganda. Their propaganda is so far fetched and only the most biased and ignorant could possible belive the vile they spew on a day basis. The GOP are as anti-American as you can possibly be. They are an embarassment to this nation!

And the Obama propaganda machine rolls on

Great job by Newt. Keep it coming.
Most posters here are completely clueless about the issue of Gov’t control healthcare.
Nearly everybody wants reform, including conservatives, but they don’t want big Gov’t taking control of it – its that simple.
Yes, they will take control of it – maybe not immediately but in a few years after its implemented. And it’ll be another mismanaged, and ill-conceived liberal “feel good” program which will end up bankrupt (see Medicare/Aid, Soc. Security, FHA, etc.)
Rather than making wholesale changes like TORT reform, lessening exsisting Gov’t regulations and licensing, fraud prevention, and immigration reform – you’d allow for the complete dismantling of a very good system. Plus you’d give control to a Gov’t who consistantly fails in managing these programs.
No lies, spin, or other subversive tactics could change my opinion as well as the majority of others on this subject.
2010 can’t come soon enough. Watching leftists dethroned in droves; it will hard to contain our schadenfraude.

George, why don’t you write that Gingrich/Palin’s claim is FALSE? You just quote Gingrich and don’t tell your readers the truth. Facts aren’t partisan, they’re facts. We could use some here.

People! The Democrats created Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and countless other programs because they want to destroy our Capitalist nation.
So we must end their programs and return to a natural America.
Lets send those Democrats a message, No we won’t! We are going to put an end to socialism in all its forms.

Arachnae – You are correct in the content of the orginal Constitution, that is the exact reason that the framers put Article 5 in the document. Those portions you quote were overrode through the provisions of Article 5. If Congress feels that they should be in charge of health care and it is not a power given to them in the Constitution then they need to follow the procedures of Article 5 to change the document.

Health care is already rationed…those who can afford it and those who can’t. Of course, the ultra poor, minority classes, etc. get health care for free (or close to it). Healthcare belongs to the wealthy or the poor. Middle class hard working people are SOL. That’s the rationing going on now. The solution is not more rationing through the gov’t. Fix the insurance and legal problem, fix the corp. greed on necessary equipment. PLEASE don’t put my health in the hands of more beaucracy! God help us all.

FYI – for those on here blasting Cash for Clunker! Well, cars are rolling off the lots, which means car companies need to make more and hire back workers, which means they need parts, so companies that supplied them will be calling back workers and so on, do you see how this works!?

Elaina, You’re a prime example of people taking the food out of my children mouth, why didn’t you pay for the surgery out of your pocket instead of using my tax dollars, you are a good example why we need to end medicare and Social Security, for my children sake.

: wd | Aug 9, 2009 1:36:45 PM—- 83% are satisfied with their health care, please reference where you got that number. They may be satisfied until they have an illness hit their family. Also, PRESIDENT Obama is not trying to take over HC, why you people say that is beyond me, he is attempting to give an option. I know you guys don’t like choice, but people need another option!

Sarah Palin speaks the truth. The Airman who lost his legs during what supposed to be routine surgery was in a government-run hospital. So much for government care.

I guess I’m not getting something. Newt and Palin believe the Government should have a say in my reproductive rights, my health care, if I get birth control or have an abortion, but..they aren’t good with giving me a health care option. Boggles the mind!

The truth is that a society that cares about human rights and human dignity does not allow its citizens to die because they cannot pay for health care or have gotten too old because we are so worried and mine, mine, MINE.
MY KIDS.
MY paycheck.
MY taxes.
Selfish and shameful.

Vote them all out. Lets start new.

Someone blurted, “This is America. We do NOT want Socialism! Palin is right…”
Ever hear about how Alaska pays out thousands of dollars every year to its residents? Know WHERE this money comes from? Palin was (briefly) governor of the state that is more ‘Socialist’ than any other in the country. The irony is likely lost on Palin and her supporters……
Sarah Palin: when the going gets tough, quit.
What a wonderful role model…..

Whats the latest on the Michelle Obama Chicago Medical Center $20 million taxpayer funded patient dumping scandal?

“Sarah Palin speaks the truth. The Airman who lost his legs during what supposed to be routine surgery was in a government-run hospital. So much for government care.”
Oh for heaven’s sake.
So no one has EVER gotten bad care in a for-profit hospital? No one ever dies from staph infections or mistakes. No one is ever denied care by their insurance company? Really, what country do you live in? Please come live in the reality based world the rest of us live in.
Bad things happen no matter WHO administers health care. That is life and fate and luck.

The Newt is the posterboy for IMMORALITY. Is this the person RNC wants to put forth to discuss “community standards”? Really?!!

M, I am not trying to be impolite I am just speaking the truth for a new generation.
When President Bush wanted to put our Social security money in the stock marked I was all for it because that meant I don’t have to carry a nation on my back, you would be surprised how many people feel the way I do, and eventually we will prevail.
Medicare takes up 17% of our economy, the government has gone crazy they should only be involved in maintaining a well ordered Army against foreign invaders, not taking care of sick and old.

We must have single payer system!

Notice how Newt skirted the question, never agreeing with or disagreeing with Palin. Instead he tried to shift the subject to someone who said something a while ago and who had no part in writing the current legislation. Heck, even Obama didn’t “write the bill.
Facts according to a NON-Partisan research group;
1. Not one of the industrialized nations scores even close to 100% in “Are you satisfied with your health care.”
2. Of the industrialized nations Americans scored highest in “Are you dissatisfied with your current health care system.”
3. America scores below all but one industrialized nation in “Quality of health care.”
4. America scores number one in “Dollars spent per citizen on health care.”
Conclusion: Something is drastically wrong with our system. Most people in the industrialized nations think their health care system could be better but many more of us in America feel that way. So if we go to a “Canadian system” we’ll still think the system could be better but we won’t be as dissatisfied as we are now.
Finally, do a quick Google search and find that in numerous surveys the conclusion is the same – the majority of Americans support Obama’s plan. I couldn’t find one that showed it the other way around (in a brief search). Seems that like most things political, those who don’t support it are the most vocal and most apt to misrepresent (lie) it.

Has anyone checked out the Healthcare bil? Here are some observations. On Page 320 any non resident alien is exempt from individual taxes for healthcare(means we’ll have to pay for it.) Page 195 All officers and employeess of the Government Healthcare Bureacracy will have access to to American’s personal and financial records. Page 354 of the bill will restrict treatment for “Special Needs” individuals. Page 425 to 427 senior citizens will be required to go to end of life seminars periodically. Page 430 Government will dictate what sort of treatment you may have if your illness is catastrophic. It goes on and on.

Health care rationing will be euthanasia. Obama’s science czar has even written a book in favor of coercive population control. I don’t want Obama’s health committees deciding what I can and can’t get treated for.

John | Aug 9, 2009 2:18:56 PM- No, you just prefer an accountant making your life and death decisions! NOBODY is going to force you to use this health care, you like yours, fine stay with it! What part of that don’t you get?

One of the reasons I personally believe in euthanasia is that from watching an uncle die while he thrashed in his bed from extremely painful bone cancer. The night he died, he was given the most powerful induced drug within legal limits, and that wasn’t enough to keep him from having the morbid pain he was experiencing in his last hours of life. His head was bouncing all over the bed, he was restrained from getting up, and his moans were worse than those of women giving birth. That was a merciless death. It was horrible to see a human being in such pain, and legally, there was nothing more that could have been done for him except to bite the bullet. That is unkind and uncompassionate to terminal patients in tormented pain. If you think the cancer war is over, think again. More people still die of cancer, and the war on this campaign is going to researchers who aren’t any closer to a cure than they were under Nixon in the 70s. So who is cruel — researchers who take government grants and do little, or those who allow choices of euthanasia to be allowed in these extreme situations. Death is a topic most Americans are so afraid to discuss. Death is a transition not an end. Death needs to be discussed more openly so living can be more enjoyed. When we are afraid to die, we are moreso afraid to live. This isn’t about ending senior citizens’ lives or others who may have challenges most of us take for granted, but about end of life choices in extreme cases of terminal illnesses. One other friend of mine had lung disease from heart defect. She also had a hard death due to pain from labored breathing that caused muscle spasms. Have you ever had a charlie horse of the leg? Well magnitude that to all over body spasm, and contractions, and just think how that felt while her body was just trying to die. It cruel and unnecessary to die under such horrific conditions. Allow terminally ill patients chose their death — pain free or watch your loved one trash out the pain while just trying to transition.

Right now, get physically fit and mentally healthy! Rely on yourself and NOT a religion or any political party.
Sandi

Where is the media! Why do you print this garbage? Expose the Republicans for who they really are – trouble makers and Obstructionists. I need health care at any cost below $769 per month. With business declining, I don’t have this kind of cash, and must now cancel my coverage. I am not ill and see my doctor once every two years. I have no dependents, and my premium increased 26% this year. My plan administrator admitted that insurance companies are redlining with the help of the State Insurance Commission. How about printing an article on that subject. Otherwise, please print positive, substantive info about the health care plan and the proposals currently being considered. Help the many Americans who need “constructive” information.
Here is the answer in a nut shell-
The GOP is made up of irrational right- brained misguided illogical ideologists who will not be able to present any enlightenment to anyone. Rational thinking citizens may have to just “grin and bear it” as these publicans continue to graduate “summa cum mania” from the Newt G. School of lunacy

For those interested, google “free rider problem”. Wiki has an entry. Seth objects to his tax dollars going to save American lives but is fine with it when the Gummint spends his tax dollars on killing innocent women and children in a country we had no legal justification for invading.
Some people opposed their tax dollars going to that, such as Thoreau and many others. They didn’t have a choice any more that Seth does. I suppose he can resist and end up in jail like the peace activists did. He can object, but he can’t do anything about it. He uses all the infrastructure and services the various, local, state and federal money provides for but he doesn’t like it having to pay for them. Free Loader.
Free Rider. Dead Weight.

The turn out for these town hall meetings show how small the republican party has become. They can fill a “room”. The tea parties are another example. Attendance has been “less than” 1% of the population within a 10 mile radius of the event. This “less than” 1% wants to control the direction for the other 99%. The democrats would be smart to please the people that put them in office. I doubt many that attended these town haul meeting this round voted democratic.

“A common example of a free rider problem is defense spending: no one person can be excluded from being defended by a state’s military forces, and thus free riders may refuse or avoid paying for being defended, even though they are still as well guarded as those who contribute to the state’s efforts. Therefore, it is usual for governments to avoid relying on volunteer donations, using taxes and, in some countries, conscription instead.
Government is indeed the primary mechanism by which societies address free rider problems. In addition to fiscal measures noted above, regulation is another form of collective action taken by governments to resolve free riders problems such as environmental degradation or excessive resource use.
The free rider problem is also one justification for the existence of governments which provide public goods. Some ideologies, such as libertarian capitalism, are often rebuked, because in such a system all property in a society would be privately owned, away from any state involvement or regulation. Libertarians such as Lysander Spooner suggest that competition between mutual insurance companies, voluntarily patronized by property owners, could provide a practical alternative to government monopoly on protection over a particular territory.”

how many of you opposing president obama’s health care reform get government health benefits? if you are one of them, let people with no benefits at all have a civilized debate about it. after all we are the ones who don’t have the government paying our bills and really need the system to change. look, poor people get medical coverage from the taxpayers, then the reform will make no differience for them, rich people can still get the best care money can pay for, no problem there, so is us in the middle class who’s future is a stake.

Old Lysander Spooner was an interesting bloke, and nothing like the glibertarians today. But we all know what happens when companies and corporations are left to their own devices and allowed to police and regulate themselves. Been there, done that, twice now, and that’s why we are here today and had the Great Depression last century.

The “average” congressional representative / government employee should NOT have “special” health care. This would help them understand first hand what the rest of us face with our health care limitations and they would have a vested interest in crafting an acceptable plan.
An exception might be advisable for the President, Vice President and perhaps a very select few others to ensure those people are given extra care due to their responsiblities.
I’m starting to wonder, is it still possible we Americans could find something we can agree on? I hope so.

Shame on who? Shame on all of you for commenting about something none of you know anything about. Until you’ve experienced socialized medicine, for example, by living in another country, you shouldn’t have the right to comment. You don’t know how bad it is.
Plus–
No country has FREE healthcare. It’s taken out of their payroll checks just like they take out our social security. Sure, your premium may go down but so will your take home pay.
Did I mention I’m a democrat?

Sorry, I was at work, so I didn’t see the show. Why doesn’t your network do a show to exclusively address all the concerns out there. Have someone from the administration and someone from the republican opposition there to explain their view point. DON’T let them talk over each other. Do it in a debate style. We need to expose misinformation that doesn’t help any of us. Please don’t use your medium to fuel the fears and anger. Can you try very hard to just give out the facts; and to expose the lies and inaccurate information for what it is. We really need you to do you job. Thanks.

One has only to look at the Post Office, the DMV, Amtrack, Veteran’s hospitals, etc to see what government management portends.
————-
Jerry I agree with you that’s why we need to end these government programs, starting with Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, Post Office, Amtrack Vets Hospitals and all that stuff.
let the Private industry handle what is necessary.

Ask a liberal and a conservative to read the works of Engel, Marx, and Lenin and they will both read the books but it will be the conservative who understands what is being discussed. The liberals will only see it as a collection of words but not understand their meaning.

Hank said “The media is being irresponsible for not fact checking before printing. I find grand humor in this, but I do concur, for if all the FACTS would have been printed to discredicampaign lies, Obama would have lost the most and the hate and fear democratic party would not be in power. By the way, why do democrats hate and fear republicans? Your venomness in your comments show it. So do we now know who the party of hate and fear really is? And just because WE dont want to kill our mothers and our grandmothers, and our handicapped. If you do, lets get a policy made up for you just like that. The only thing they’ll pay for you is killing yourself, when THEY feel you no longer have value.

Our country has made plenty of decisions NOT based on love but from selfishness and greed of money and power. Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich not only have a wealth of knowledge and know how to use it, but they have good COMMON SENSE. Evil is trying to win our country over, but when all is said and done, Jesus WILL HAVE the last word. Many, MANY things right now show we are living in the last days of this age as we know it. Do you have a personal relationship with Him?

Jerry | Aug 9, 2009 2:42:13 PM- Really? Facts have been laid out on this site. Funny thing is when a Republican can’t answer it they resort to “socialism” “communist” without even knowing what the words mean.

“George was defending Obama, is that the task of a reporter? ; is journalism dead?”
It’s the job of a reporter to report the nature of things. If Newt Gingrich is obviously full of crap, George should say that he’s full of crap.

Seth | Aug 9, 2009 2:46:37 PM – So, you say do away with all of it. What is our plan? What about the little old lady with no family that depends on her SS and medicare? Do you want a “death panel” for her? As usual the Repub answer is private companies. Ok, but what about the people receiving these services, what do you do with them?

I’m not going to debate the death panel issue because I don’t believe it’s true either. But I will state that Howard Dean outright lied as well. He stated that he and his wife were practicing physician’s have “never” had an instance of medicare tell a doctor they wouldn’t cover a certain procedure while they had plenty of instances of insurance companies do it.
I’m sorry, that is an outright lie. Medicare and Medicaid have extensive lists of procedures they don’t cover that are deemed “experimental”. In fact, the private insurance companies tend to cover procedures far earlier than the government. Example, the lap-band or stomach stapling have proven effective against obesity and the fight against diabetes. Private insurance covers the procedure but the government won’t.
While the republicans might be hyping issues to defeat the bill, the democrats are just as guilty in trying get the bill passed. If this reform is supposed to be so good for us, why must it be rushed through and why are the drafters of the legislation not willing to listen to or work with those of us that have different opinions. Before you steal the money out of my pocket, please be able to explain the provisions of your bill and how it’s going to effect me. Don’t lie to me.

sigh.
The federal gov’t does not run the DMV..your state does or your county. The fed gov’t does not run the Post Office.
Nor do they run your local public school OR medicade…these are state/local run programs. They may get some money from the fed gov’t but they are administered by you state and local offials.
The VA, for the most part is very well run and most vets are happy with the care they get.
Like most public entities your milage will vary.
My local DMV is the picture of efficency and friendliness. My local PO is well run.
I can pay for a shipping label online and my carrier comes to my house and picks it up and in a week it has made it to its destination. I have done shipping though the PO for 3 years now, twice a week. They have lost 3 packages and 2 of those were international and lost in customs.
Pretty good track record.

The people that showed up for the Healthcaree propaganda meetings orchestrated by an incompetent Democratic Leadership(?) illustrates how upset our citizens are about the unknowns in the healthcare bill. If the Democrats could answer some simple questions about planks in the bill, maybe somebody would listen to them. Sounds like Americans are finally waking up to the level of incompetence in Washington. It’s about time.

Sandcrab1612 | Aug 9, 2009 2:47:37 PM – But, but we’re the elitists remember? We actually believe in education! By the way, I’ve read Engel, Marx, and Lenin! Look at half of the posts here, it’s obvious your Conservative brethren don’t have a clue! They throw out words like socialism, fascist, communist and Marxist without knowing what those words actually mean!

HEALTHCARE is funded as follows; 54% private and 46% Government. Now our Government will NOT go after Insurance companies, Lawyers & TORT reform by limiting ridiculous jury awards, Fraud in Medicare and will not place themselves in the SAME healthcare plan THEY SAY IS SOOOOO GOOOOOD for US! Doesn’t sound like “Change” to me. It sounds like business as usual in Washington, DC. Doesn’t matter Bush or Obama. How is the Government doing with the 46% of Healtcare they pay for now? How is Government doing with Social Security ….. it has NO SURPLUS. That means NO MONEY, ITS BANKRUPT. How is Govenment doing with Medicare, VA Hospitals and the like? Everyone is poorly mismanaged and never comes in at or under budget. They even can’t manage a dinky program and yet another giveaway like Cash for Clunkers. 2 Billion FREE dollars and they underestited that! Are we to believe 1.6 TRILLION of taxpayer dollars they want to spend on healthcare is an accurate number – please. Who out there is THAT STUPID. I know some of you will defend it because its about politics and your hatred above country but most Americans will see it for what it is. The last straw in ruining this country and an economic collapse. What happened to Obaman saying over and over that “this is the worst economy since the GREAT Depression” that we heard during the election. I guess we can just keep on spending becasue it can get much, much worse than the GREAT Depression if we don’t keep OBAMA/REID/Pelosi in check.

M | Aug 9, 2009 2:57:31 PM So we have a democratic president, a overwhelming democratic majority in both Houses of Congress and yet BO still cant pass this poorly written bill. Must suck to be you.

Who cares, if someone is terminally ill what difference does 6 months make in their lives. Money better spent on people who are still working. We have got to reduce the number of these baby boomers somehow, or there surely won’t be any money for me on social security.
Kill 2 birds (pardon the pun) with one stone. Decrease health care costs and decrease social security costs.

Oh, btw, Jefferson was the fellow who first set an eye on caring for the poor and sick with public monies raised by tithing or taxation, in hijust like he founded the first PUBLIC UNIVERSITY in this country. He was very keen on public education because he knew you couldn’t have a functioning democracy with ignorant wingnuts. See his Draft of a Bill for Support of the Poor
1779 and Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 14, 1787 for American welfare policy in the founding era.
He also instituted the Estate Tax in which you fools demonstrated that John Adams was right about words when you called it THE DEATH TAX! And DEATH PANELS! He was talking about you clowns.
They’d all be Democrats today, if not social democrats.
“Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society. “

Hello, healthcare is already being rationed by insurance companies, and has been for some time!!! Those who pay for their healthcare insurance and their medical bills know this. The US can save a lot of money by stop paying for government officials healthcare and by making these same government officials start paying social security and medicare taxes like every US citizen. And there are many who do personally believe in euthenasia for themselves, study Oregon’s healthcare history.

I am for reform.I hope we get healthcare reform. But not with this piece of crap bill.Read the bill. I cannot see anyone with common sense voting for this bill in its present form if they have read it.

Anybody who takes Sarah Palin seriously is a fool. A fool. Including Newt Gingrich, who at times shows signs of being rather intelligent. And especially including all those insurance company sell-out hacks spouting their blather on this board.

First of all, to defend Gingrich, if he is too disgraced to speak in public, then somebody better tell Clinton to give back all the millions he has made entertaining people all over the world.
Heard a lot of ad hominem attacks on this post from liberals but not much logic. Are all liberals mentally challenged? This is exactly the tactic used by the three mentally challenged Democrat women from California instead of answering the real questions that thinking people have regarding Obama’s secret health care plan. Palin is a thorn in the side of the Dems, she refused to follow Obama’s abortion agenda, those three Democrat women from California would kill to look like her, she didn’t waste her money going to Harvard or Yale to be indoctrinated with Marxist ideas. My solution, first let’s just try getting the lawyers out of health care and see what happens. If Obama’s plan is a stinker, we may not be able to turn it around. It’s your health too, folks. We might wind up paying even more for less.

…as long as there is no truth to the rumor of ‘End of Life Councelling’, I’m good with it…but don’t sit there and tell me that health care will be doled out based on age since it has to be rationed. When the gov’t gets involved in anything, it is usually chaos anyway…let alone something like this.

One thing for sure Sarah Palin sure has the dems’s running and throwing out anything they can against her for they know she is right and are afraid she is going to run against oboma and his cronies.

Palin and Gingrich or Gingrich Palin either way it would be much better than what we have now.

I know that most people in this country DO NOT want bigger government. Some people are afraid but just want admit it because they are mezmorized by Obama. He’s just a man — who has had a terrible childhood and carries a lot of baggage. NEVER IN HISTORY has big government been good for the people… No matter what these guys say… It’s NEVER worked and NEVER will.

ABC, et al. continue to let this guy talk nonsense that he susbequently forgets because they think it’s newsworthy and entertaining. Plus, he’s a wonderful source for soundbites. the idea that network news, including CNN was actually interested in providing useful information dies long ago. Just as banks are all about finance changes and Wal-mart makes more money from wire transfers than groceries, network news has ceased to be about information and instead brings us irrelevant dolts like Newt.

you will not see the death panels until its time for someone you know or yourself to be taken out they are good at keeping it a secret, oh and buy the way you know a democrat is lieing as soon as he breaths from birth.

Come 2012 it’s going to be a different America and those socialist programs parasites will have to go back to work instead of depending on government programs. my advice to y’all.
1. Get you medical private insurance
2. Save your own money for retirement
3. if you have problems turn to your family leave government alone.
4. You are only entitled to what you earn, no more.

Yes, Government can’t do a damn thing!
They can’t fight and win WWII and rebuild Europe! They can’t outlast the Soviet Union! Or operate Social Security or Medicare! No!
yawn….

Nice. The most famous quitter in the country and a disgraced former congressman. Why are they on my tv?

Don’t look now; but I believe if there is any mention of “panels” in any of the bills (don’t people know there are at least 4 potential versions), it is likely a panel of medical experts that presently meet in hospitals all over the country to decide the most efficient, pertinent and best medical options for any particular patient’s medical care. It is called a Utilization Review Panel and nurses & doctors already participate. One thing they DO NOT do, however, is to decide who will “live or die”. Palin has absolutely no practical knowledge or understanding of what practices outside of her geographically isolated little sphere of wilderness & family mean in America. It’s like she’s living in a different reality; & even when she studies up on “facts,” more often than not, she gets it wrong! I agree with someone else: who cares what philandering Newt Gingrinch thinks about ANYTHING?

Government will consume everything and everyone who doesn’t demand their liberties. It’s the nature of the beast.

M, Why am I sick, because I choose to listen to Rush and Hannity, because they are not as weak-kneed as those Republicans in Congress, they are just as bad as the cowardly Democrats.
There is going to be a cleansing where we get rid of those Congressional Republicans and get true Conservatives to enact a new America policy.

RC said “Those screaming about “death panels” are either (1) lying in service of big insurance or (2) have IQs lower than Trig’s (and for those of you who will scream about bringing Trig into the discussion, your Queen Sarah did that).”
Strange comment

it makes me sick to see this unaccountable girl(SARAH PALIN) still comments on the media and i wonder why she is also been allowed to continue to voice out her unproductive speech to the society. look, i am in a good position to tell that girl (SARAH PALIN) what is right or wrong because she had just proved her bunch of illiteracy! now i am beginning to understand why she was thrown out from the office because she is replically a fool that is always asking what to say without knowing her own left from her right!! i will be waiting to see her run for her vice presidency in 2012. that will be the worst mistake of America.

I’m with you BJP, we will go back to real capitalism.
When my father retired and I took over the business, it’s small but profitable I made it even more profitable by getting rid of the long-timers and getting part-timers my dad was amazed at the profit I turned, but then my dad didn’t go to College, so anything would amaze him.

“How do you know when a republican is lying.
Answer: When they open their mouths.”
hhahaha robert YOU are so witty and funny. That sure must have made everyone who read this laugh out loud. I hope you do not try to be a comedian because you fail.

Everyone understands that Obama isn’t getting things done. The special interests, Corporate lobby and non-profits ect……. have us by the nads. How do we control them except with our Representatives of the people doing the peoples bidding. Is there anything good that we can take from this healthcare reform that is being offered? Both Republicans and Democrats are playing us all. Anyone know what things really need to be done to make the system better? Lets stop the division among us that is being orchastrated to benifit everyone but the people. We should look at what systems work and incorporate it to make our system better. What does healthcares past history tell us? We got to learn from the past right. We have to work towards a common purpose like the founding fathers did. Am I right? What do we do with all who are without healthcare? Can we control the insurance companys prices for those uninsured somehow? I’m tired of this dang status que spinning wheels kind of crap. How do we move forward without damaging this country further. I don’t want to fight with my fellow countrymen and women about something that we all need. We must look at what works for us without leaning to far left or right to the point of possible no return. Those boundries must be established and the public should be educated with the results so that we can make the proper decisions. There is too much chaos dividing us all. Who benifits? I sure in heck don’t. How bout you. I get healthcare through the V.A. I guess I do benifit somewhat and I thank you all for that much. What about the 40 or so million that can’t afford healthcare? What do we do?

i don’t actually know if the republican think we are still blind in this country by formulating all sorts of fallacies and lies that shows how they have been running our government! i will never wish for the come back of the republicans into our governmental system because they are all bunch of wicked, careless, stupid inhuman but they are still yet to discover that America as a nation today has gone above their bushy style!!

Tim you say you get your insurance through the VA, but wouldn’t you feel more pride and more empowered if you were paying for it yourself?
I mean come on my taxes should be mine to spend as I choose, and i wouldn’t choose to give it to someone I don’t know.
People this is the creeping socialism I have been telling you about.

It really is sad to watch these poor weak-minded and superstitious individuals being manipulated by the elite of the conservative wing of their party,(who don’t give a rat’s ass about them one way or another), to oppose things that are in their own best economic interests and support things that are not. They’ll sooner die than grow up so I guess we’ll just have to wait them out. As I said, there aren’t many left. But they won’t stop health care reform. Their party (Republican or conservative) has been reduced to nothing more than a Rump party.

These blogs are very revealing. Virtually every democratic comment is a personal attack against whomever they disagree with, namely Republicans. I’m had cancer, a double bypass, and am borderline diabetic. My insurance coverage and the speed with which I got help is why I am alive today. Obama’s health care plan will end my excellent coverage and put me in a long waiting line with persons who are less fortunate than I have been. If I were to trade places right now with someone who has no health insurance they would scream bloody murder before giving up the insurance coverage my university medical center gives me and my family for $350 a month plus small copays. Obama’s plan is not a benefit to me or my loved ones. The plan I have is a benefit. It allowed me to treat genetic problems at their root and save my life twice. Under Obama’s plan, I would’ve died 5 years ago probably before reaching the operating table. There, I’ve stated my opinion without namecalling and yes, I am opposed to Obama’s plan, because I want to keep my current coverage and not lose it when my university opts in to nationalized health care. I will vote against Obama in 2012 and anyone who supported this plan on my ballot in 2010 and 2012 if it passes. I am an independent voter.

You Democrats got get over this. Obama’s medical Bill wants to take over your insurance and make sure your health care is run by the Government. If that happens Obama and his henchmen can change the policy any way they want to. Don’t say it won’t happen. Once they have power BYE,BYE,health care.

Ok, the majority in this country want health care reform. A vocal and misinformed minority are against it. They think they have to participate, no you don’t. Keep your health care you have. So, why are you so against others that don’t have health care actually being able to be insured? Please don’t say deficit. Because we all know not one of you said a word when Pres. Bush inherited a surplus and spent us into a deficit. Only now do you speak. Did a cat have your tongue those last 8 years!?

grinch look more or less like bush, i think they are of the same catigories, they are not even supposed to be seen on the media because they have nothing good for information offerings as they look distroying!!!!

***…….”How is the Government taking over health care going to make it better? They cant run a VA hospital let alone every hospital and insurance company in the country. ………..
………I am happy with my health care now, leave it alone………I can’t wait till the next votes are cast , all Dems must go.
Posted by: robert | Aug 9, 2009 10:47:26 AM”……………..”
_______________________________________
You know Robert, you’re on to something here. In fact, we should go one step further and remove all “socialistic” government programs starting with Medicare and Social Security!

Ms. Palin is totally without shame to lie about the treatment of her own child with Down’s syndrome would receive under a national health care program. Those of us with mentally handicapped children or siblings already depend on public programs to provide our special-needs loved ones with medical care, education, job training and protection of their rights. Ms. Palin used her son with Down’s Syndrome in an effort to undermine and slander these very programs which have already served millions of our vulnerable loved ones. If you don’t know what it was like for the mentally handicapped before these public programs – perhaps you can be forgiven for not being nauseated by Sarah Palin’s lies and exploitation of her child. In the 1950′s I remember very clearly how the majority of parents once sent their mentally handicapped children to grim institutions because there was nothing else for them in communities hostile to ‘retards’ and ‘spastics’. In those days a boy with Down’s syndrome rarely survived to his 20th birthday. It has changed dramatically. Today, those mentally disabled from birth are eligible for SSI and publicly-funded medical care throughout the country. Our taxes provide the life-saving medical and surgical treatment for people with Down’s Syndrome(health care that Palin denounces and would deny the rest of us) so that her own son can look forward to a fulfilling life well into middle age. With or without her, Palin’s youngest son will benefit from the programs that we fought for and won!

I intend to respond in an abbreviated form to Jelo33. It will take several posts to do so. I will have all done then post each portion one after the other as allowed, until done.
Jelo33 says:
The plan is to scare the stupid undereducated American people.
(By the way, Jelo33, stupidity is an internal quality. Undereducated, that would be the fault of the democratic socialist education plan. American people we do share. Isnt it great to know that Jelo33 and his liberal friends think the”American people” are stupid people? His Words not mine.)
Republicans are willing to see America destroyed just to make sure Obama does not succeed in anything.
(Isnt it amazing how everything is about the ALMIGHTY Obama, and NOT about the welfare of our country)
The Republicans were against everything:
1. Against Cars for Clunkers
(A monetary infusion façade Just a method of scamming the tax payer. For every trillion dollars in this, Every man woman, and child in this country would have a 3000 dollar, (plus interest on it), debit in taxes. 330 million times 3 thousand does equal 1 trillion, so instead of being hateful for me paying for your car, say thank you and move on. After all, my children and my grandchildren and even my great grand children will be paying interest on this (your debt). The same goes with the stimulis)
2. Against the Stimulus
(It hasn’t stimulated anything, there is no accountability(nobody knew where the money was going from the very beginning, even some democrats were shocked)(Chicago power politics at its best, got a senate seat to sell?), and for the record, when more money (I prefer monetary façade), is injected in the economy, the dollar quickly becomes devalued, and buys less compounding economic problems.) We end up with a shrinking economy, and an inflated currency, (oor another words, almost worthless money and no jobs, which is why the chi-coms got ticked. They are heavily invested in our economy.
3. Against the Middle Class tax cuts
(Did someones taxes get raised? I am against that.)
4. Against the rise in minimum wages.
(Lets raise the minimum wage, so they can then cry about less job availability, and how it’s the republicans fault, even though they caused it. Fact: raise the minimum wage, they hire less people)
5. Against helping the Car industry
(They didn’t help anyone. They stepped into a highly unionized (codeword for Socialist) part of the economy, threw some money at it, and took socialist control. Proof: they fired the CEO. Previous to this, shareholders decided this-the majority by share, not the government)
6. Against health Care, keeping it even if you lose your job.
(We are not against health care, we are against additional government healthcare. We are always against healthcare that will hurt our families. I must presume you are not. We are also against socialism, and I presume you like socialism (a slightly milder form than communism, but with the same results)
Remember these were the same people who were against:
1. social Security
Yes, you are right, it creates government dependency(socialism), and there is no financial accountability.
2. Against Medicaid
Yes, it creates government dependency(socialism), and creates higher healthcare costs for those insured on their own.
3. Against Medicare
Yes, same problem as above
4. Against the GI bill (past and present)
Here you will find ambivalence, WE are for supporting our troops, yet this is beyond the scope of the Federal government, but not beyond each state to do.
Why are southerners still supportting the Republican Party?
In the past, the states paid for most of these things, especially military veteran benefits, and military pensions, and it still should be done and controlled by the states, the feds are abusing us.
So now, I have responded to some liberal lies, with some plain historical truths (if people would look at the past, this wouldn’t even be an argument).Unfortunately, when enough people prefer the liberty of slavery(having someone take care of you) to the slavery of liberty (working hard, and being vigilant in protecting your liberty), you no longer end up with plain old socialism. You end up with the servile state. That is, you end up in a country full of slaves. Read Hilaire Belloc, “The Servile State”.
Liberals once again show their party is a party of hate, fear, and division. Good going, Jelo33. If we don’t pass THIS idea, we should be afraid.(fear) If the damned(hate) conservatives would get stop and get out of our way(division, notice no compromise, not here, not in government_divisiveness) Now we know the real party of hate, fear and diviseness, liberal democrats,

“why do they always bring palins son into this.wake up america. ”
If by THEY you mean Palin then I don’t know…..why DOES she always use her kids for political points?
Sh is the one who mentioned her baby, not anyone else.

Thanks for taking an active role in the discussion George. I get so tired of watching these panels where the hosts simply sit back and let guests make whatever outlandish claims they wish in the name of “balance.” Obviously it’s important to give both sides a fair hearing but there’s nothing fair about letting someone repeat blatant falsehoods unchallenged. If Dean started fabricating I would’ve hoped you’d have done the same. Keep it up, you aren’t overtaking Meet the Press for no reason.

Of course Gingrich defended Palin’s “death panels” comment. He said this:
“You are asking us to trust turning power over to the government,” said Gingrich, “when there are clearly people in American who believe in establishing euthanasia, including selective standards.”

Hey Seth,
All federal employees (including our Congressional representatives) may enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/faq/index.asp.
This plan contains several valuable features not available to the average American.
(1) Universal access to coverage
a. FEHBP requires that all plans cover the same medical services.
b. If you have been enrolled in FEHB for the five years prior to your retirement you can stay in the FEHB Program when you retire without a premium increase.
i. This appears to be a MUCH better option than COBRA.
c. If coverage is turned down a member can appeal to the vendor and then to the Office of Personnel Management for a second appeal.
(2) No waiting periods or coverage limitations for pre-existing conditions
a. http://www.apwuhp.com/benefits/2009_brochure/section11.html
b. HIPPA helps with this but there are still exclusions.
(3) The average plan has 72% of the cost paid for by the “employer” (In this case the federal government).
a. http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/rates/nonpostalhmo2009.pdf
b. This appears to be inline with what is paid for as a part of most corporation’s health plans althought it can vary widely.
(4) Members of Congress have their own pharmacy and a team of doctors, technicians and nurses located in the capitol . They can get a physical exam, an X-ray or an electrocardiogram, without leaving the capital.
a. Representatives pay about $300 per month, and Senators about $600 for these services however taxpayers pay another $2 million.
b. I was unable to confirm this information.
Quote for the day: All tyranny needs to do to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. – Thomas Jefferson

It is the Wall Street insurance companies that ration health care. They deny coverage and claims and run the charges up for everything. The Wall Street insurance companies are the entity that cannot be trusted. WHy do the Wall Street insurance companies fear competition, especially form the inept government? Who would want to choose a government plan that is ran by an incompetent group of people? Certainly the Wall Street insurance companies have little to fear by additional competition.

rightbehind: it is “lose” not loose

Tedd – I believe that you are fairly close. I saw an article by a former Dmeocratic Congressman who said that the health care for them while in DC was using Walter Reed & the Navy hospitals and military doctors. He also said that this care was at their own expense as FEHB plans did not pay the military providers.
I also don’t know how you get $300 per month for Represenatives and $600 per month for Senators as they are all on the same FEHB insurance plans. The differences in what they pay should be the difference between the plans not based on which side of the capital they are on.
I’m not sure what you mean by taxpayers pay another $2 million since the governments portion of the FEHB premium is as you say comparable to what many large corporations pay as part of the benefit package for their employees, so since it is part of the benefit package I don’t look at it as additional money the taxpayer pays. If it is something outside of the governments portion of the FEHB premium then I am not aware of what it would be from reading the FEHB data and applicable federal statues.

Government will not take over health care, they will be the replacement for the Wall Street insurance companies. You are being ripped off alot more from Wall Street than you are from the government.
But if you want to get rid of all social programs, then lets get rid of the police, paramedics, and fire department. And now that I think about it, public schools are socialism too because the people’s tax base pays for them.

look i am 63 and had to go on cobra ins. it only for 18 mth. and i pay 485.00 a mth. i can not raelly pay this amount and most ins. cos. will not give me ins. because i am type2 diebice if the gov. would lower the cost to 225.00

sandcrab: welfare also means giant bail outs for the rich and tons of tax breaks, lease giveaways for oil companies and the other Wall Street elite that are ripping us off. Of course that is fine because it is a “free market”. Free for Wall Street.

There are only a small number of legislatures that are standing in the way and these will be those that are targeted for the 2010 campaigns. Give the American People a choice. After all, nobody will want a government plan that cannot work because it is from the government. Everybody will desire the great old policies of coverage and claim denial and health care rationing by the HMO and Wall Street insurance companies. I cant believe that people trust Wall Street after last year’s fiasco…

Hey, think long term, when will you start thinking long term? If you want a real long term plan, try taking care each other within your family. I have health care, and with a small additional contribution I can include my “dependent” mother, father, in many instances,handicapped adult children or grand kids. There are all kinds of options out there, just sometimes we are too lazy, or too tired, or we give up and quit. Personally, I think they need to eliminate health insurance. It just bloats prices way out of proportion.
Emanuels plan(they are pushing for him to administer healthcare) by his own words, if you care to look(i won’t help, that would mean youre lazy),paraphrased, but retain the meaning, convince and pressure the elderly to kill themselves, so your children can have better health care. After all they are worthless, they no longer contribute (His sentiment, not mine. I read it straight from his writing. If you like these ideas, just continue to believe the lies the republicans and democrats throw out there to nintentionally keep you in a party fervor without ever seeing truth, seeing only what they want you to.
They call it a “hegelian dichotomy”. At least look this up on you computer, and understand the game foisted on all the american peeps.
I would also get rid of a lot of things dealing with medical licensing. I am reading a book from the web from the 1800s on these subjects, and how it all began as a way to raise prices precipitously, control medical care and who would be the recipients of new medical advances. The end results of these struggles to drain the American people is now known as the very liberal AMA, and they succeeded and they did a very good job, with the governments help in controlling licensing, and evrything else. Know why an MRI costs so much? You cant just go out and buy one. Well, the truth is, you can. But you have to justify to the state government that it is needed in order to actually legally use it.. Why?
Federal law mandates it. By limiting access to Medical procedures it keeps prices artificially high, and out of reach of common folk like myself (without insurance). It thus also creates a dependency ongovernment for healthcare and both sides win, but the people lose.It is socialists and “medi-crats” versus the peeps, and the peeps are losing big time. I have no stake in republican/democrat arguments, and dont want one. Get rid of government, greed, and cheats, and I would be extremely happy.

I would like healthcare that is affordable as much as anyone else but the cost we will pay in taxes if Obamacare goes through will be much more than any one of us would pay out of pocket for private insurance. In other countries, like Canada and Great Britain, their taxes are far greater than what we pay in taxes. Can you afford to give 50% of your paycheck to the government in taxes? And do you want someone else to make decisions about your life and your families lives for you without your input? I personally don’t. I do not have insurance, but I do not want what is on the table from the government. I understand people need and want insurance, but what is proposed is NOT the way to go. This is something that should not be rushed into because once it goes in, it will be EXTREMELY HARD to get out. The government hasn’t been able to run Medicare and Medicaid efficiently, how can they run a healthcare company that is for everyone? They already ration in Medicaid. They choose what medications they will pay for regardless of what your doctor says you need. This is not what we need in this country. What we need are jobs and incentives for employers to provide healthcare coverage for their employees. We also need government officials to listen to what the people who elected them want, not what their party tells them to vote.

Oh yeah… and palin may be nice to look at, but, she’s an idiot too.

Try the truth | Aug 9, 2009 5:50:07 PM Remember those neat wiretapping policies that Bush put into place that got the lefts panties in a wad that obama said he would fix when he got elected? Two months after taking over he backed out of that little promise.

Old Newt is a phony and a nobody without even an elected office. Why they keep this creep on TV along with the crazy lady is simply amazing to me.

ABC why don’t you do your job and investigate why Feinstein had 8 seniors ages 55-87 arrested for just waiting to talk to her? HMMMM????

Boxcar | Aug 9, 2009 6:02:23 PM– Try the truth | Aug 9, 2009 5:50:07 PM Remember those neat wiretapping policies that Bush put into place that got the lefts panties in a wad that obama said he would fix when he got elected? Two months after taking over he backed out of that little promise. ——- Well please show me where he said that, because I do believe a Federal Court in Detroit overturned that as unconstitutional BEFORE he got into office! The Congress did vote in an amended version that hasn’t been challenged. Pres. Obama did vote for that.

I wish we could move beyond this idea that healthcare reform is a secret plan by the government to kill old people and move onto something productive like working on the checks and balances.

There George goes again sticking up for Obama just like during the campaign when he had to correct him on his faith. If Palin would have said something like that the world of journalists would have exploded.
Government is already too much into our lives and wallets. When have you ever known them to do anything efficiently???

Perhaps we should start withterm limits as most of the problems are from those who have been there the longest and should know better. Politics should not be a career that lasts a lifetime, it should be seen as a service to your country. Two terms (12 years) for a Senator should be the limit and in the House three terms (6 years) should be the limit. Here is how their retirement would be affected using the Civil Service Reform Act of 1984. Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS. As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants’ contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes. Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they’ve completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Member’s of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension. The amount of a Congressperson’s pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary. In order to continue receiving health care insurance under FEHB the Congressman mus meet the requirements to retire or transfer to another job within the Federal Government.

I don’t need nor want the the government wasting trillions of $$$ to give a handful of druggies and illegals health care insurance. I certainly don’t want the government more involved in my health decisions deciding what care I should have.

Try the truth | Aug 9, 2009 6:24:56 PM So my issue is with misinformation! Don’t try and scare people with something your own party included and is a good ….++++++++Uhhh, you brought up the Patriot Act and civil liberties. Its not my party, I didn’t like it when Bushy implemented it and I don’t like it that Obama embraces it. You guys still think that if you oppose obama that you are automatically far right. The moderates and independents got him elected and if he continues at this rate they can pull the plug in 2012.

This is the inevitable result of electing the most inebpt fool in human history as our president. One can only adk, how long will it take for even the densest American to figure out that the Obamination was referring to communism when he spoke of the good of the “collective” and “spreading the wealth” at every campaign stop.

Bill | Aug 9, 2009 6:34:30 PM OK…My insurance is better than BO’s plan and I dont drive a “gas guzzling hog”, unless a saturn sl at 32 mpg is gas guzzling ,and I got no kids. Is that all you got?

Evil recognizes evil-like lookin’ in the mirror-right ex-Governor of Alaska! You and this other Republican-who has no plan of his own so he has to spread lies are both losers-Quitters too. Seems to me the Republicans are following a pattern of spreading lies and fear instead of adding positively to the conversation. Go away Newt-go visit Palin.Remember she can see Russia up there!

Sun Tzu said ridicule those that disagree with you. That’s what the Obama machine is doing. The art of war…

Have a good night folks, need to go! For those believing this drivel from Palin and Newt. Educate yourselves. It’s called a living will and 2 Republicans included it in the bill!

Follow the money.

Someone asked earlier how this healthcae bill would reduce our freedoms, here is a simple answer with 10 violations of our rights contained in HR 3200:
1. Forcing people to buy health insurance.
2. Forcing employers to provide health insurance for employees.
3. Forcing one group (wealthy, soda-drinkers, etc.) to pay for the health insurance of another group.
4. Forcing future generations to pay for the health care of the present generation.
5. Forcing patients to participate in a government-run plan.
6. Forcing doctors to participate in a government-run plan.
7. Forcing hospitals and other health care providers to participate in a government-run plan.
8. Forcing insurance companies to compete with a government-run plan.
9. Forcing insurance companies to write policies that offer coverage for specific conditions.
10. Forcing one group (older Americans on Medicare) to accept reduced benefits in order to fund other public health care plans.

I watched the program, and re-watched the segment. Newt brought up the “communal standards” language, which doesn’t appear in the Bill, as submitted. It is a talking point, perhaps a valid one. But also, what fuels the rage in people who don’t have a grasp of the specific language that is at present, and could be changed within the Bill. This would have been an excellent forum as are all of the talk shows to hear every one of the guests speak up and denounce ‘the behavior of the American people’ – and don’t mince their words when telling all of America (and the rest of the world) that this is unacceptable behavior – screaming, and shouting, and literally becoming violent. What values does this behavior teach our children? That it is okay to use violence and be disrespectful in the language we use and the tone of voice we speak?

with the U.S. 27th in the world on infant mortality, rampant greed and the highest prices do ya think they need to be controled. everybody should be forced to see the doucumentry [Sicko] France,england ectlive longer and better than we do by far and not a commi in the bunch and free health care.or we could let them keep stealing every dime we can round up to suport greedy prices and lousy service! keep in mind your baby has a better chance of makin it in Cuba than right here in the good ol usa sad don’t you think

I want to see some kind of reform that both parties can agree on – real reform. I know it can be done, and I’m glad Obama tackled it.
I have to say, though. When an administration tries to push through something fast, without giving people time to digest the thing, it makes me suspiscious.

If we could take 1/2 the money being spent by special interest groups on opinion pieces to keep people upset on all sides of this issue, we could probably pay for everyone’s health care and put some money back into social security.

Let’s get serious about single-payer government-run health care for all. Remove insurance companies from the picture. Surely we have people who are wise enough and honest enough to run such a system. Take the best ideas from the systems of other countries. It will be a huge complicated mess to accomplish this, but it will be worth it. It is in the best interest of our fellow citizens.

Rhonda,
Read your post noticed no one else responded to it. But, I can totally relate. My son lost his small intestine and relies on IV feeding 19 hrs a day at a cost of $1800.oo per day. Got social security$900.00 per month and pays his COBRA of $425.00 plus copays as he has a 80/20 plan. Doesn’t qualify for state medicaid (he makes to much money) and not eligible for medicare till 2011. Insurance company will not let him consult for a small bowel transplant cause they have no in network Dr. They only do them in 4 states. So screwed by government and big insurance. Cobra runs out in a few months. The rest of you who oppose health care reform pray your family does not have to go through this.

Say what you will about Gingrich, he can be a demagogue. But the man is not stupid. I think what he’s saying and what any non-idiot can interpret is that regardless of how this thing starts out, it will turn into something entirely different in 20 years. There may not be a panel deciding who to treat and who to let die in the plan, but as the impossible to pay for debt mounts up, things will change.

Since so many of you liberals trust the government so much in making your healthcare decisions for you, why don’t you all opt for Obamacare and wait 6 to eight months for care, endure the 77% cure rate for breast cancer that they have in England, and trust all your personal medical records to be easily viewed by the government bureaucrats. You people are crazy. Just like you trusted Obama and his administration to fix the economy, create jobs, and lead America away from the awful social medicine programs that know do exist in other countrys. Yes, you laugh, there are people who die, because they don’t receive care in a timely fashion or receive substandard care. It happened there, but, oh no, it can’t happen in the US. Think again…and just think for yourselves.

What scares me in all this is to see how little all these people care about the people who cannot afford health care. The sentiment of “I got mine, the rest of you can go to hell” really disappoints me.

Why on earth would you choose someone like Newt to have this discussion? This mean is irrelevant and an idiot to boot.

Can George and the leftist media ever have a fair debate.Newt was professional never interrupted and listened to what these two Communist had to say.But when Newt was talking they started talking over him, that’s the way the Communist democrats are whenever the truth comes out they try to hide it.These are sad times when our media covers up all the Communist policies the democrats are forcing on us.

There is a reason Dan Rather wants to save the media. He just doesn’t understand that it is going under because of a whole bunch of washed up democrats protificate for the idiot masses who try to defend expansion failure.

Charlie- You quote the NCPA as a source. Have you done any research on the NCPA? This is a quote from their website _ “The NCPA’s goal is to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector.” In other words they don’t like any government programs and are looking for ways to keep programs in the private sector. They will not be in favor of any health care reform by the government. I will have to look into their claims about Emmanuel, but it sounds that any comments are slightly tainted just from theirmission statement.

Since precious little Trig is a special needs child, I wonder if the Palin’s receive any kind of government assistance for him such as government disability and government medicare or any type of government insurance. Is it government insurance or private insurance that pays little Trig’s medical bills?

Newt Gingrinch hates Medicare. Always has and has been vocal about it for years.He championed its demise!
He often referred to it as a large,Clunky,inefficient government system, which would wither away. His preferred system was a competitive managed care system. Its been a touted republican alternative for at least the last decade. I don’t understand why were not all sratching our heads at the hypocrisy and contradiction of his and Palins positions. This is just partisan sniping at the expense of constructive debate.

Attn: Seth
Self reliance can start with you. If you have any money in the bank take it out. I know it’s tough but you may as well be consistent. Your money is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a government agency. Why should any of us care if you lose all of your money if your bank fails?
I guess you must think that the guys who wrote this;
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” , were a bunch socialists with all of this nonsense of promoting “the general Welfare”.

government health care I can believe in!
The Senate, the president, the house of representatives, need to first experiment upon their own lives and families before shoving on it everybody else.
Government is free to start a national health care plan offering every American an insurance policy on the open market. But, let them also go to he open market and ask investors to finance the plan, not taxpayers
Let it “compete” by offering a plan that is legitimate, does not define what other companies offer, is prohibited from defining what may be offered to the elderly, the infirm, or limit the care they can afford and want to pay for. Leave consumers the opportunity to purchase the level of care they want to pay for, for as long as they wish, w/o government interference.
Only government can ration health care. insurance may limit what they pay for but they cannot prevent you from paying for medical treatment on your own
Some of us may want a minimal coverage, let the government provide that policy. If somebody can afford and wants a top of the line Mercedes Benz quality insurance, let them buy it from any source which offers it and not simply the miminmal coverage Obama wants to force on the rest of us.
Give us a real choice, not the government mandated choice.

This is for Michelle…. Please I am a Republican and to suggest they take some of Gingrich’s comments to play back is not going to get more Republicans in Congress. The more Palin and Gingrich talk the worst it gets for us.

There are enough real issues to debate concerning the pros and cons of government-run health care without resorting to wild scare tactics like “death panels.”

These two losers are deliberately saying these lies to cloud the issue of health care. And there are Americans out there as stupid as these two who will believe these lies. Sad.

Don’t like palin, don’t really care for rush…. and, I #$@#$$ well don’t like the Federal Government running anything. I have to carry my Dad to the Vet. Admin. for his medical needs, he took a bullet in Korea. If any of you have had to deal with them and the run around, you know what I am saying to be true. The Government CAN’T run squat. If you want to put your faith in them, go for it, BUT I WILL NOT. Sorry.

Who in there right mind would want government to control your health care,,,I agree with Palin!!!!

The irony is the “death panels” are a lie, but the whole idea was based on HB3200 which proposed end-of-life counseling to help people develop living wills….and it was proposed by two Republicans. It’s not a Democrat idea, nor is it part of President Obama’s plan. It’s a GOP thing. So that means Palin and Newty are complaining about a bill proposed by their party that they don’t understand, so they lie about it. Palin’s a quitter, Newt was tossed out of Congress for corruption. THIS is your Republican leadership.

hi
im confused and a bit scared, I am young now but what about my future. Also what about my dads future. Can someone please explain to me what this bill means. I want to live a healthy long life. Thank you:)

I am a thinkin’ that Gingrich and Palin are gearing up for senate run in 2010 or join forces to run as President/VP candidate in 2012. God help us with 3 times married Gingrich and Palin with her cargo.

Palin is a quitter — If she became President would she quit then when the law suits would get over $500,000? Please the lawsuits are very expensive, and she is a lite weight. No player at all, and she is a “has been” baracuda.

Dennis — Right ON!

Sam, rationing has been going on for decades, centuries in America. Where have you been?

I can tell you from experience Medicare denies far less coverage than Corporate Health Insurance.
There is simply no legitimacy to these claims. Where is the media in all this, they let these crazy Republicans lie through their teeth.

I don’t get any of this. Every country in the world has a public system. Do you hear Canada, Australia,New Zealand complaining.NO you don’t! It is all about the Ins.companies not making their CEO’s rich. Anyone of you out there been really sick, try not getting coverage from the Ins. co. again, or have your premimums go sky high. Do you want to move? Nope, can’t do that no other Ins. company in another state will have you. This is very depressing, all this screaming no one really listening to each other. I don’t just know, D–n.

ABC proudly wears it’s GOP button once again. Did you ever think about even appearing to be a news organization rather than a political organ?

Oh come on! Gingrich and palin are both in another world. Neither one are too credible. Look at Gingrich’s record and Palin couldn’t even finish her term as govenor.

Health care already demands that conversations about wishes at the end of life be conducted. The media needs to become educated. CMS (Centers for Medicare/Medicaid) and the Joint Commission both contain standards which state that hospitals must ask each patient if they have an Advance Directive (Living Will and or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care) and if not, if he/she wishes to create one. Both agencies also demand that health care facilities have bio-ethics committees to help guide patients/families when these kinds of decisions must be made.
I hate to tell Newt this, but he’s going to die some day. No one is talking about euthanasia but if he were 87 years old and soon to die would want his doctor to keep him alive on a ventilator with a full code? Being Newt, he probably would.

Charlie- You quote from the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA). Do you know who they are? Here is who they say they are, “The NCPA’s goal is to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector.” ——In other words they don’t like any government control over anything or any government programs at all. Not exactly an unbiased source for information is it??

It’s obvious that neither Palin or Newt read the bill they are calling “evil” Once again we have Palin speaking of something she knows absolutely nothing about nor took the time to research before giving her unwanted and uniformed opinions. Is it any wonder that Gingrich would defend her?? He is another loser hoping to steal a few of her sparse supporters. When Palin takes the time to read and research what she chooses to speak about, then maybe I will take 30 seconds to read her opinion. She really must think she can get by on being an attractive female (without the brains God gave a goose) to further her political career.

George: Why would anyone be interested in someone like Gingrich. He would not admit to you that there is no “death panel.” What they are trying to do is give you someone to help with the final days of a loved one. Some people do not want extroadinary measures taken to save their lives..others want everything done. You need to know what it is they want. Also, you need advice on whether or not to bring them home and the consequences of this or to put them in a facility. What is wrong with this? I had to do this with a family member and it helpful to have someone to talk to who can give you suggestions what to do….not to terminate the loved one. These are lies propagated by insurance companies because they dont want to lose business. They don’t care about you….they will drop you in a heartbeat with no notice. You need to step back and listen not stop meetings from happening where you can learn something. Many who are there do not want to learn but to break up the meetings and have been sparked on by the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity and the high schooler Beck.

Newt is so desparate to regain control and power that he is siding with Sarah Palin, a known spreader of lies and exaggerator who is mean-spirited, fair-weather and evil. Those two make such a disgusting pair. Anyone following Newt or Sarah needs their head examined.

I would have liked to have heard Howard Dean’s rebuttal to Gingrich.

Stephanopoulous lost his cool — Since he is best friends, admittedly, with Emanuel, Carville, and Begalla, he clearly is compromised as host.
(And, nepotism reigns in the WH)
Gingrich politely did not pursue fact that Dr. Zeke Emanuel is a proponent of selective treatment, i.e. “elderly and disabled are non-productive. Treat those who have a healthy future.”
Read his articles. He’s probably already volunteered for Palin’s “death panel.”

i like when there is debate over things like this but when one side has to resort to lies it pretty much tells you their side of the argument is weak. I would love to hear the Republican side of the health care debate but the more nonsense like this I hear the less it seems they have a legitimate argument.

Gingrinch is a lying manipulator who doesn’t deserve to be on TV; George was a complete coward for not calling Newt on these despicable falsehoods.

why do people get waylaid about sarah palin, when the REAL question is, WHO is Dr. Zeke Emmanuel, and WHAT back, behind the scene influence,”euthanasia”, does HE have? SARAH PALIN is the flagman on the highway to help you avoid a disaster.

George was not defending Obama – he was correcting the lies coming out of Gingrich’s mouth.
Why have Gingrich on at all? He’s as corrupt a fear-monger as they come.

There is 80 years of history of government health care around the world. All of them include rationing and denying care, higher death rates, hidden statistics. It is naive to think that just because we are Americans and we have Obama that we will escape that fate.
Reduce costs by limiting law suite damage and penalty pay outs, by posting prices, by treating all health insurance equally as income and as a tax deductible expense, and by offering a host of packages that allow me to choose how much I pay out of pocket and for insurance, with a catastrophic backstop.
Our government has allowed the destruction of our fishery, our forestry, they can’t manage VA hospitals, Medicaid and Medicare, and now they want to wreck the rest of our medicine.

What fear mongering ! In the US, most states ALREADY recognize “living wills” or “Advanced Health Care Directives”.
These documents spell out your preferences for end of life care. Isn’t it appropriate that Americans talk to their doctor about the medical treatment they want?
What is wrong with asking Doctors to help explain these choices? It’s good for you, good for your loved ones, and a realistic way to specify treatments you want – or – do not want. How is that a “death panel”?
For example, when you are in pain, what type of management would you like? If you have a terminal illness, do you want to die at home or in a hospital? Do you want a specific pastor or priest at your bedside? These can be clearly spelled out in an “advance health care directive”.
These “living wills” also help us decide who can make medical decisions should we become incapacitated. When you are in pain, what type of management would you prefer? And hospice care – do you even know what’s available for home care?
It is NOT “euthanasia” or “selective standards” to show terminally ill and aged people how to make decisions about these highly personal issues.

Gingrich and Palin: You are bashing a president who keeps his word. A novelty to both of you however, you are bashing a president who passed a health care bill for children in the second month of his administration. He promised to address the costs of health care and he will. No other president has touched it especially Bush because they knew the complexity of such a bill. No one has to give up their care if they are happy. No older person will be euthanized. (I am 70 and I have no fear of this). In fact, President Obama’s plan is already working. I have been receiving invites to join at least four health care providers in the last week. That is what he wants, to give the insurance company some competition to make them lower their costs and provide better care. Can you get this?

John Stossel has a most informative story about health care. He made a lot of sense to me. Great job Mr. Stossel.

It is sad that so many believe the rather silly lies about health care reform, (death panels, euthanasia, rationed health care, being forced to buy public health care, etc.) when the facts clearly written in the bill would refute them.
Would there need to be a discussion about the fictitious ‘death panels’ that the right wing made up if Journalists did their job and printed the facts of the bill and called out the liars? Where is investigative journalism when we need it?

It is amazing how naive people in the country are. No one has ever asked any politico why tort reform is essential. Just think about it folks. If the trial lawyers were shut out of the process they use to inflict the damage upon the insurance industry and doctors, it would mean a huge difference in costs. Why do you think the healthcare business is in such trouble? If you watch any TV, there is an ad constantly for some form of liable on anything these sleaze balls can get out of the insurance industry. The national media needs to focus on this matter more.

Regarding some comments regarding Cash for Clunkers and how the government is incompetent of running that program..the bottom line, the program is proving to be successful. Keep in mind this is a totally new program, it’s never been done before so funding of the program at the beginning is an educated guess. Give credit where credit is due. Furthermore, if you were informed, the government runs the VA Hospital which is highly regarded among VETS AND IS RATED HIGER THAN PRIVATE SECTOR!!!!

Much as I would not vote for Gingrich, anyway, I thought he was more intelligent than to agree with Palin on the “death panel”. What surprises me is even though people have been told there is no death panel, they refuse to believe it. I am a 70 year old woman and have no fear of this. What they are describing is that the patient have the right to decide their own fate..as to extenuating circumstances or not. Nothing else…it is a patient’s right issue not a death panel.

Since Howard Dean retired as the DNC chairman he shouldn’t get involved in the Health Care topic. Sarah knows better than he does and some of the commentors on this board who don’t know what is good or bad for this country. This Health Care plan is a gimmick just like cash for your clunker’s. Obama is really smart at fooling the public and some of these commentors are believing him.

End of life is a very difficult time for all concerned and many, many questions arise. Some of these can he handled if the individual expresses her/his preference prior to the time the end is close by. Terrible conflicts can arise if the key person — the one who is dying — has been unable to express themselves prior to the final days. Whitness the Terri Shivo case. Allowing/encouraging the Doctor to counsel the patient and giving the patient the opportunity to express themselves when death is not on the immediate horizion is, by far, the most humane thing to do. Denying the opportunity is, as in the case of Gov. Palin, just plain ignorant or as in Mr Gingrich’s case, so cynical as to suggest a complete absence of humanity.

The only definite thing that can be derived from this debate is that Georgie Stef. should NOT be allowed to broadcast news as a reporter. His views and comments were more biased than either of the other two.

The problem with most of you is that anyone who agrees with Obama is in his camp. Is it possible that Obama right sometime? Stephanopolus is one of a very few who has a non biased show. He has gone after many democrats and has challenged Obama from time to time. What I am beginning to believe is that no what Obama does even if he finds a cure for cancer, he will still be disliked by a certain segment of the population. Sad, because he is a very intelligent man and will take us into the future in a good way with green enery. If you had directed this anger at the previous administration, maybe we would not be in this mess.

In ALL government directed and controlled health programs care is rationed. The rationing is overseen by government officials. This program, by design, must have this structure to work. Have you read the bill? The provision is in the bill.
Posted by: John
==================
In all PRIVATE directed and controlled health programs for profit, care is also rationed. People are denied coverage every day, sometimes after paying thousands of dollars a year in premiums. Care is also rationed by race, class and gender, based on access and the ability to pay.
Keep in mind that the health care system that has failed so catastrophically is NOT a government-controlled system. It is a corporate-controlled system, where life and death are weighed against the bottom line and on how much the CEO wants in salaries and bonuses this year.
So long as life and death are considered a matter of dollars and cents, which all the “protesters” seem to care about most, care will always be rationed. Compared to other civilized countries, America’s health care is twice as expensive and half as effective based on overall health of the population. This is because growing numbers of Americans cannot get basic health care, especially preventative services that can help people avoid the more catastrophic and costly illnesses later.
I’m willing to bet that all those “protesters” have insurance, or they’re already covered by the socialistic government system called Medicare (which operates with an administrative cost of 4% compared to private insurance companies whose administrative costs are in excess of 25%, largely due to obscenely exhorbitant salaries and bonuses for company executives).
My most fervent hope for them is instant karma: that they lose their health insurance coverage and have to fend for themselves like the rest of us. Let them go to Aetna or Blue Cross or Hartford or one of the other corporate sources of health insurance and beg for mercy because they are destroying any chance that a safety net will be there for them when THEY need it.
Of course, from the looks of them on TV, they are all white middle/upper class people who don’t need a safety net and mightily resent those who do. So much for being a Christian nation. This is one of the nations that will be sorted goat from the sheep in the end times, as Jesus warned.

The Republican Party is the party of lies, distortion, fear, militias, racism, and hypocrites. They are very, very bad for America and the world at large.

it is quite obvious the liberal left is trying to defend themselves..they know by the polls, that they are losing on their form of of healthcare…the majority of the American people are not ready to jump as they did with the stimulus, just because Pres. Obama wants to make history with health care reform in his first year. If he really wants to have praise…he needs to listen to the people..and what they want…not what he is telling them they “must have” only then will he get the respect and acknowledgement he so years for!!

If you read the house bill from pages 360 to 364, you will see exactly what Palin is referring to. At first glance it seems okay, but if you consider what they mean by “as likely to die as not within a year” and it lists differing levels of health professionals, it certainly can be considered a death panel. Newt makes a valid point wiht “asking people to trust” because this bill leaves people vulnerable.

Regardless of how the bill is phrased, there is enough shadiness in the administration’s approach to everything to cause suspicion. They are anything but transparent. They have been caught in their lies many times. Bottom line is that government has no business taking over any aspect of our lives or any aspect of free enterprise. That’s why it is free and that why we have a constitution which guarantees those freedoms. The government has grown to large. Time for them to stat cutting and paring down to a more reasonable size.

The worst part of that segment wasn’t just about George’s obvious partisenship, but he misled the public by saying that Ezekiel Emmanuel was not an advisor to Obama. Ezekiel Emmanuel IS EMPLOYED BY THE WHITEHOUSE! Get your facts straight George!

Anyone notice Gingrich’s reaction at -00:20 when Stephanopoulos tells him that the bill doesn’t contain anything about the “communal standards” Gingrich keeps railing against?
“Who cares if it really exists or not? I’m trying to make a point here”. For all you GOP supporters who think democrats are a bunch of shameless liars, take a closer look at Gingrich and Palin.

While I find your program to be the most balanced of the Sunday political programs, I feel that the emphasis on “Sarah Palin” continues to enforce the perception that mainstream media is nothing mor than a mouthpiece of the DNC and specifically President Obama.
Please do not allow your program to go down this path, as it is very hard to trust the intention of the information we as the general public receive from media outlets today.

Health care is already rationed – but right now it’s rationed by private insurance so they profit.
You die = they profit.
We already have death panels. Grandma is going to die so that a corporate executive will get another bonus this year.
Is that really the system you people want?

ImReady – I felt the same way you do about the “Patriot Act” and going to war with Iraq…

Obama was first on a death panel in Illinois, and he single-handedly was responsible for Americans being left to die, who otherwise would have been saved with medical care. See the nurse who witnessed this (Jill Stanek)or read the article in the National Review by Andrew McCarthy.

The responsibility for where this country is, at this point, rests solely with our Congress and decades of corruption and waste. The president has very limited sole powers. It takes an obscene amount of money for them to become a member of a group, of which, many have no conception anymore of the way the majority of us live. The money contributed to get them there offers still more money when new legislation is enacted. If anyone thinks they can serve more than one term by using common sense and voting for what is in the best interest of our country, think again. Special interest will not support a second term for a candidate with basic ethics. We have 3 major parties running this country, Democrats, Repbublicans and the background party, the Lobbyists.
Political affiliation has nothing to do with our conception of a particular piece of legislation. There are thinkers and there are lemmings, both in Congress and in the American public. We need a true bi-partisan bill which includes no provision in any form that excludes Congress and other federal employees or any other group with no public option at least in it’s present form.
I heard one of the proponents of the healthcare bill say that what the government is trying to do is to enable every American to have insurance equivalent to the one that is available to Congress and other federal employees, which will include all of the czar appointments to be filled by the requirements of this bill. If this is truly the case then have them put us into their plan, not into a plan that will eventually lead to eliminating private insurance. With the provisions so far put forth, that end result is assured. Some members of Congress have already made remarks that this is what they eventually want. It will be an insidious process and many of us will not see that day, but it is assured for our future generations. We have medical treatments that are the envy of the world and unfortunately that has contributed greatly to the rise in our insurance. Another major factor is the liability insurance our doctors are forced to carry to stay in business. The mania for Americans to sue and the monies awarded in these suits, in many cases, is out of hand.
Congress is not capable of handling this without the corruption which occured in some of their other legislation. Social Security funds were to be used for no other purpose, but they have borrowed from it with no hope of getting it paid back and now want to burden this nation with more opportunities for more waste and corruption.
When the auto industry decided to not support so many of their dealerships people bought hundreds of cars at bargain prices from dealers who were cut out by their suppliers, than came “Cash for Clunkers”. How long do you think it will be before the auto industry will be able to recover? These people will be out of the market for a car for years. With the economy in the dumps they will keep their cars longer.
In spite of claims that we are in a recovery I see no such thing.
Congress has spent decades legislating us into all of the problems we are knee deep in. They have ignored waste and corruption, even within their own ranks, and ignored warnings of actions that led to much of the collapse we are living with. The president has very few sole powers and our legislative branch is the sole owner of the mess we are in. I have asked my own representatives in Congress to answer only one question and that is “Why do you think you are so much better than the rest of the country and excluded yourselves from this legislation”? I have received 1 answer in agreement with me and no answers from the others and if that is what other people have encountered when trying to get answers, then I fully understand why there is so much disruption at the Town Hall Meetings.
Don’t take anyone’s word for their explanation of this bill. Go to it and form your own conclusions using plain old logic and common sense. I want no government controlling our healthcare insurance and definitely not a bill that excludes them.

Think good for nation not personal
If we hate Black president. tomorrow Lady president is coming, after that Hispanic president is ready. If White is feel shame to say president Obama instant of Mr. Obama the time is come.White should pack their bags and go to British colonies like Canada/New Zealand/ Australia and south Africa . Leave this nation alone. We pluralism nation save our nation as we saving our Army. we are black, Hispanic and Asian. We will take care of our health we don’t need boss around us.