Originally Posted By Mr X ***Well, I have two choices via the "contact us" button.*** Why would you tell such a blatant lie? Anyone can click on the same links and see that you are lying within seconds. I don't get this...are you just trying to prove a point or something?
Originally Posted By wahooskipper "Contact Us: Share Your Thoughts and Ideas We want to hear what you think about health reform. Share your story and send in ideas about why we need health reform this year Show your support for President Obama’s commitment to health reform." Unless I missed something, the above is what I found. If you can point me to someplace better X I'd be happy to follow through. You think the President knows ALL the facts of this case? I'm sure he might know the Professor's side of things and the cop's side of things but that doesn't mean he has all the facts. He called the Cambridge Police Department stupid. (Were they all at the house that night?) Let me be perfectly clear. Perhaps the officer(s) on scene took things too far. Perhaps the Professor went overboard. I don't know. But I do know the President's comments were inappropriate and I suspect he will admit to that publicly at some point in the not too distant future or, at the very least, apologize to the Department and/or the City of Cambridge. Sport...why the heck are you talking about stuff from 7 years ago? I've been pretty clear that I'm not a Bush lover, took issue with many of his decisions, and did not like his strategy the last 4 years. As for your final paragraphy Sport...did I mishear the President when he said that healthcare reform will not add to the deficit? Yet, you just stated the CBO says reform will increase the deficit by $239 billion over the next 10 years. Which is it? Is the CBO wrong or is the President wrong?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Unless I missed something, the above is what I found. If you can point me to someplace better X I'd be happy to follow through.*** You found more than that. But you continue to lie.
Originally Posted By Mr X "He called the Cambridge Police Department stupid." No, he did not. (more lies)
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Oh good grief X..."The Cambridge Police acted stupidly." There, feel better? But I contend that is inappropriate...particularly from the President. As for the website. I'm not lying intentionally and I have already thought about the questions I'd like to ask. So, if you can point me to the best place on that website to send in my questions please do so. In the meantime I will open a Word document and jot down my thoughts and that way I can just copy and paste into the note when you give me the information. Why the hostility toward me? Goodness.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << As for your final paragraphy Sport...did I mishear the President when he said that healthcare reform will not add to the deficit? Yet, you just stated the CBO says reform will increase the deficit by $239 billion over the next 10 years. >> No. You didn't mishear. The President also said he wouldn't sign a bill that adds to the deficit. A bill hasn't yet been presented. But in either case, the costs are not all that extreme. We spend more in a month in Iraq than they are talking about in annual deficit spending for health care reform. I think it just helps to have some perspective here. The Republicans keep yelling about costs, but neglect to mention all of the other costly things that we are prioritizing in our budget right now. The cost issue is a red herring being used to scare the public.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Sport...it isn't just the Republicans yelling about cost. Again, when his own party is on board with a plan then we can see what the Republican response is. Do I think they will try to railroad this? Yes. And that will not please me either. But, let's not say it is the Dems vs the Repubs here. President Obama is largely on his own on this and he needs to be more worried about selling this to his friends than to me.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << But, let's not say it is the Dems vs the Repubs here. >> You're right. It's really the big insurance companies against the millions of uninsured and underinsured. When 20 cents of your private health care dollar goes toward administrative costs, corporate profits, and executive compensation, you aren't going to find organizations sympathetic to actually treating sick people. By comparison, 3 cents of every Medicare dollar goes toward overhead expenses. There are a lot of businessmen who don't want to lose that 17 cent differential. The corporate jets and million dollar salaries are pretty comfortable for the few that get them.
Originally Posted By Mr X "Oh good grief X..."The Cambridge Police acted stupidly." There, feel better?" Again, that's not what he said. ***Why the hostility toward me? Goodness.*** I harbor no hostile feelings towards you whatsoever, Wahoo...I just wish you'd be more honest in your statements. ***As for the website. I'm not lying intentionally and I have already thought about the questions I'd like to ask. So, if you can point me to the best place on that website to send in my questions please do so.*** As you know doubt realize (assuming you actually clicked on the site in the first place), you have plenty of options besides the two you claimed were your "only choices". I can only imagine you're being difficult on purpose, since the links to contact people are myriad on the very page you mentioned.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << I can only imagine you're being difficult on purpose, since the links to contact people are myriad on the very page you mentioned. >> I dunno, X. I went to the site, and there is a lot of information. But when it comes to "Contact Us," the options are as limited as wahoo implies. That's not to say the information isn't there, you just can't directly ask a question. I didn't see a FAQ.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I dunno, X. I went to the site, and there is a lot of information. But when it comes to "Contact Us," the options are as limited as wahoo implies. That's not to say the information isn't there, you just can't directly ask a question. I didn't see a FAQ.*** *sigh* Simply by clicking "contact information" on the "two choice" page Wahoo referred to, you get this... <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/ContactUs.html" target="_blank">http://www.hhs.gov/ContactUs.html</a> Which plainly offers all the information you could want (including FAQ's, and contact info for various etc.....).
Originally Posted By Mr X Ya'll do realize that the site I linked to in the first place was a health and human resources site...right?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy ^^ I never found the hyperlink to that page. It's not as straightforward as it seems. But, in general, I'd say all the information is already out there if you take the time to look for it.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Sport...I'll agree with you in 48...the insurance companies are going to be the greatest barrier and...of course...they have lined the pockets of many a Congressmember. X...I'm really trying to be patient, particularly as you continue to call me a liar. The President, by how own admission said, "I don't know all the facts." He then went on to say, "The Cambridge Police acted stupidly, uh, (when there was proof that there was somebody in their own home)." And, once again, since he admittedly did not know all the facts then it is inappropriate for him to say they acted stupidly. If I got nasty with the police in my own home do they have the right to arrest me? I'd say yes. I had the FBI in my home once. They asked me a ton of questions. I never once got nasty even though I knew all along that they were questioning the wrong guy. They figured it out and left without incident.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <The President also said he wouldn't sign a bill that adds to the deficit.> He also said he would use public financing, then he didn't. He said he couldn't denounce Rev Wright, then he did. He said he wouldn't employ lobbyists, but exceptions were made. He said he'd put every bill up for review before he signed it, but he hasn't. He spent $44 million denouncing Sen McCain's plan to tax employer health insurance, then said he consider it. He said no one should be forced to get health insurance, now he says they should. In short, you vote for change, you get change. The President may have said he won't sign a bill that adds to the deficit, but things change.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>What I AM opposed to is the President's continual use of the strategy, "I have a plan...I can't share the details...but trust me anyway." I don't want this to be rushed and pushed through. I'll give the administration a chance if he gets his own folks on board.<< But he didn't do that last night. He's not saying "I have a plan but I can't share the details." The realities of getting this passed are much more complex. There's five different congressional committees that need to weigh in, two of whom haven't. And the moment Obama says something specific and then it has to be changed because of congressional negotiations, he's toast in the media and with Republicans. He's screwed either way: It's too vague or he changes his mind and breaks his promises. I don't blame him for choosing too vague. That said, I was a little disappointed at times myself last night. He needs to roll up his sleeves and get tough. His soft touch has become tiresome. He's dealing with absolutely unscrupulous people who merrily label anything he does socialism and who gladly put their own political gains ahead of the American people. Enough speeches, Mr. President, it's time to cram healthcare reform down Republican throats. Take those blue dog Democrats in a room and explain in no uncertain terms that the party will be glad to fund and support another Democratic candidate in the primaries if they don't support it. Enough! I too would like some specifics. I really don't blame you for expecting more information, wahoo. But I can be forgiving there. Americans are such greedy, selfish, pigs that it's little wonder he's vague. "Don't raise my taxes! I don't care who dies or who goes without treatment - my healthcare's good, so don't raise my taxes." It sickens me - I'd make an appointment with my doctor but I'll have to wait 8 weeks in our top-of-the-line system.
