John McCain could be the Senate’s new Ted Kennedy
On Sunday, John McCain told George Stephanopoulos that “health care reform might be in a very different place today” if Teddy Kennedy were well enough to participate in the negotiations.
“He had a unique way of sitting down with the parties at a table and making the right concessions, which really are the essence of successful negotiations, so it’s huge that he’s absent,” McCain said on “This Week,” mentioning his “personal affection” for Kennedy.
Over the last 24 hours, many other observers have noted Kennedy’s reputation for reaching across the aisle. Interestingly, the same used to be said about McCain.
When he ran for president, McCain’s reputation for a principled bipartisanship was intact. But since his defeat, he has bowed to the harsh nihilism that seems to be all that Republicans represent these days. They just want to defeat Obama and his policies. They don’t care about getting anything done.
If McCain really has such “personal affection” for Kennedy — or if he has a shred of concern left for his country — he ought to quit listening to the cynics of his party and start seriously negotiating on health care reform.
Teddy Kennedy earned his reputation for pragmatism when Democrats were out of power. The GOP needs the same sort of pragmatism now that they are out of power.
Even if few other Republicans follow McCain’s lead, he has little to lose with the party’s base, who never cared much for him anyhow. McCain might as well accomplish something worthwhile in his remaining years in the Senate.
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126 comments Add your comment
Peadawg
August 27th, 2009
7:55 am
Cynthia, I know you don’t like McCain. But, comparing him to someone who committed murder is pretty low…even by your standards.
Zip
August 27th, 2009
7:56 am
By “principled bipartisanship” I guess you mean bending over and letting Democrats have their way with you. Sorry, not going to happen. We’ve been done that way a few too many times.
Wayne Peltier
August 27th, 2009
8:08 am
Perhaps the senator will accept a compromise on the capping of medical malpractice judgements. Conservative senators want for a plan that can pay for itself.
Remember there is the larger problem of recruiting our brightest scholars to invest in a medical education.
Mort Merkel
August 27th, 2009
8:24 am
Kyle Wingfield’s latest no longer says he will start blogging this month. Hmmmm. Something’s fishy in Conservative Idol winner-land. Maybe he’s heading back to the Wall Street Journal or the AP. Meanwhile, kudos to Cynthia Tucker for her fine blogging efforts.
Mort Merkel
August 27th, 2009
8:28 am
On topic … nihilists … heh, heh, reminds me of The Big Lebowski. I think McCain is feeling like a man without a country right now. The folks who … sort of … supported him have mentally checked out, except for trying to drag the country down. And, the Democrats seem glad to ignore them. Can’t have bi-partisanship between folks who don’t talk to each other.
jt
August 27th, 2009
8:33 am
Although McCain and Kennedy did share the same disdain for our constitution(Amnesty for illegal aliens, McCain-Feingold, Co-orp shakedowns, etc…..) , the similarities ended there.
McCain had a shred of decency before HE became a politician.
Kayaker 71
August 27th, 2009
8:40 am
Nothing should be done about a health care bill until we put a cap on malpractice liability with meaningful tort reform and stop giving free health care to all of the illegals in this country. That starts with rounding them all up and sending them home. These two moves could save enough money to put a dent in the debt in California and restore some dignity to our legal system. But politicians, even McCain, won’t spring for this because of possibly loosing the latino vote. It’s all about votes, pure and simple.
3rd Party Guy
August 27th, 2009
8:44 am
Peadawg, it wasn’t murder. A homicide (manslaughter maybe?), cowardice sure, not murder.
‘“He had a unique way of sitting down with the parties at a table and making the right concessions, which really are the essence of successful negotiations, so it’s huge that he’s absent,” ‘
Translation: He could work it out so that the rich get richer, the deadbeats get what that have not earned, the middle class gets screwed, and future generations get to pay for it all.
Good Riddance to all of ‘em!
Turd Ferguson
August 27th, 2009
8:45 am
“They just want to defeat Obama and his policies”.
As usual Tucker wants to address symtoms not causes. The cause to defeat Obama and his policies is because his policies carry too many negatives for this Country and the MAJORITY of its citizens.
Tucker should be sharing her lunch with the Woodruff Park bums on a daily basis. After such then we might lend a more friendly ear towards her spewing of sillyness.
Peadawg
August 27th, 2009
8:51 am
“Peadawg, it wasn’t murder. A homicide (manslaughter maybe?), cowardice sure, not murder.”
The fact that he didn’t try to save her…I consider that murder.
norman ravitch
August 27th, 2009
8:54 am
Every tragedy made Ted Kennedy a better man. The years have shown, however, that John McCain just gets worse and worse.
jconservative
August 27th, 2009
9:08 am
John McCain’s vote on the Sotomayor nomination pretty much said that he is going to try & stay on the good side of the Republican base in Arizona. Apparently his private polling suggest that the threat of the loss of the Latino vote in Arizona would not outweigh the loss of the base support. So McCain will not be involved in a compromise until after the 2010 elections. After that you can probably count on him.
He has always consider his legacy to be bi-partisanship.
Kayaker 71
August 27th, 2009
9:10 am
Cynthia,
I have admired a few of the pieces that you produced for the AJC. I have disagreed with most. The one piece on the King family was a masterpiece. Time after time, even though this is a forum platform with opinion flowing freely, you still make statements like, ” harsh nihilism is all that the Republicans represent these days”.
My Webster’s dictionary defines nihilism as “a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded” … “a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth, especially moral truths”… “a program of 19th century Russia which advocates revolutionary reform using terrorism and assassination”. I am not sure that Republicans of today represent this type of outlook. If protesting a government that is wildly out of control is nihilistic, then we are in big trouble. Read about Van Jones and that “diversity dude” with the FCC and what they are advocating for our country. This is what we are protesting….. that and the fact that most of us don’t trust your Wonderboy and that bunch of idiots that he has surrounded himself with any further than we could toss them. Being critical of free speech is a bit of a stretch for someone in your position. Next time choose your words more carefully…. you should know better.
Flint
August 27th, 2009
9:23 am
Mccain could and really should finally declare what he is a liberal democrat, cross the asile and be done with it. I am tired of the RHINO republican in name only always going on about something he can not do anything for. Mccain is ineffective but, he loves the sunday morning talk shows. The trouble is very few conservatives pay attention to Mccain. Please join the democratic party or resign.
missmarple
August 27th, 2009
9:29 am
I think Kenney tried to attone for Chappaquidick every day of his life and I’m sure God forgave him a long time ago.
jconservative
August 27th, 2009
9:46 am
missmarple August 27th, 2009 9:29 am
“I think Kenney tried to attone for Chappaquidick every day of his life and I’m sure God forgave him a long time ago.”
As a Christian I would agree. Forgiveness is one of the foundations of the Christian religion. And I believe Christianity is the only religion that teaches forgiveness as a human behavior to which all should aspire.
Steve
August 27th, 2009
9:52 am
Peadawg,
You may consider it murder but the law and the courts dont and didnt. I bet you also think Obama was born in Kenya. Also, i bet you are one of those loonies demanding and shreiking to see Obama’s birth certificate.
Chris
August 27th, 2009
9:57 am
Health care, and management of the health care market (not health care system), are not government functions.
Mid GA Retiree
August 27th, 2009
10:03 am
Ms. Tucker comments that all Republicans want to do is “defeat Obama and his policies. They don’t care about getting anything done.” I believe the same could be said about Democrats during President Bush’s presidency. Neither party cares about governing…..all they care about is power, and our country is suffering because of it.
Dr. R
August 27th, 2009
10:04 am
We see here why a John McCain can no longer serve as a pivotal leader. When you walk any degree of middle ground these days, you only serve to alienate everyone on both sides. While Tucker refers to his “nihilism” and thinks of him as a right-wing extremist, those who do reside on that wing think he’s a liberal wimp too willing to be conciliatory with the other side. Sharp ideologies are required for election these days, and compromise is considered dealing with the devil. As a result, we shall forever remain entrenched in our separate camps, lobbing ordnance at each other and failing to reconcile ideals in any way. The era of the pragmatic politician has long passed. Witness the fact that the president, a part-time pragmatist at best, is facing more criticism from his own party faithful than anyone else over his attempts at give and take on health reform. If that’s the new playing field, don’t expect any kind of solution to this or any other problem. We’d rather go down in flames with our true believer bona fides intact than work to fix a problem. A pox on both houses.
the evil rich
August 27th, 2009
10:17 am
Ask Robert Bork how bi-partisan Ted Kennedy was.
dw
August 27th, 2009
10:21 am
Ms. Cynthia,
Maybe they (GOP reps) don’t want to “get it done” because a large portion of country doesn’t want it. And they are the only politicans listening. The Dems are on autopilot. More government involvement in our lives. NO! Mandated public abortion “coverage”. NO! You libs love to spout “choice”, so you “choose” it, then you pay it. Not the government. Not my tax dollars. Mandatory end of life counselling. NO!
Optional counselling. MAYBE! On the whole subject of health care there needs to be discussion. But that means both points of view. Not the standard lib way or no way. And just because Senator Kennedy just died doesn’t mean this legislation should just “cake walk” pass as a legacy.
Call it Like It Is
August 27th, 2009
10:23 am
Cynthia’s comments should not suprise you, as she is a racist has they come.
What a Moron!
Enough Said!
ncgreybr
August 27th, 2009
10:33 am
Sorry to disagree with you Cynthia but McCain will never be up to the standards of helping the public in healthcare like Kennedy was. In the long run, McCain will vote no just like all the other Republicans.
Tracher
August 27th, 2009
10:37 am
don’t read cynthia if you don’t like what she has to say. i love how angry all of you conservatives are. it’s so funny. you guys act like a 5 year old who didn’t get her way. hahahahahahahahahahah (gasp) hahahahahahahaha. so entertaining.
ncgreybr
August 27th, 2009
10:39 am
Call it like it is: What was racist in her column?
as for DW: please point out where there is “mandated public abortion coverage” in ANY of the bills now being presented? And “end of life counseling” also has the option of “keep me breathing at all costs”.
Turn off Faux News for a while and breathe. There IS life out there.
Open your mind.
Peadawg
August 27th, 2009
10:43 am
“I bet you also think Obama was born in Kenya. Also, i bet you are one of those loonies demanding and shreiking to see Obama’s birth certificate.”
And how in the world did you come to that conclusion? LOL!!! Nice try but wrong!
the evil rich
August 27th, 2009
10:44 am
ncgreybr – you and the looney left, with your weath envy, are free to help anyone you want with YOUR money. Keep your damn hands off MINE!
ncgreybr
August 27th, 2009
10:48 am
Also dw: “On the whole subject of health care there needs to be discussion. But that means both points of view. Not the standard lib way or no way.”
Unfortunately there can’t be “discussion” when one side is screaming looney tune slogans and trying to drown out the person moderating the discussion. You people have been told by EXPERTS that abortion is NOT in the bill. “Death squads” are NOT in the bill. “Forcing you to change your providor” is NOT in the bill.
You can’t point out where ANY of these things are in a bill yet you go on ranting over nothing. To discuss something take two people with the minds open.
JSon
August 27th, 2009
10:48 am
The Republicans want their way or nothing at all. I want the option to choose a public plan. We should have a choice. They can keep their corporate insurance that they love so much and keep those healthcare CEO’s making all that money. After years of dealing with insurance companies, if I have to choose between the two, I would much prefer to work with the govt.
ticklepile
August 27th, 2009
10:49 am
Keep your money evil rich, I’ll just delight in the image of your miserly soul burning in hellfire.
ncgreybr
August 27th, 2009
10:52 am
The evil rich: I have weath envy? And you know this by……? What is my net worth?
Fortunately for the rest of America, tax dollars are the governments, not yours or mine.
the evil rich
August 27th, 2009
10:53 am
ticklepile….you don’t know I’m miserly. I just prefer to decide what to do with MY money, NOT YOU! Nimrod.
the evil rich
August 27th, 2009
10:56 am
ncgreyby…wealth envy, redistribution of weath, call it what you will. Why else do you want to give MY HARD EARNED MONEY to some one else?
JSon
August 27th, 2009
10:59 am
Render unto Ceaser that which is Ceaser’s….
the evil rich
August 27th, 2009
11:03 am
Json – Forget Ceaser, he’s dead. But, if 10% is good enough for God, then it should be just fine for the government….
Truth Seeker
August 27th, 2009
11:03 am
Yeah Yeah Yeah….Kennedy was also a great standard bearer for the Eviornmental Cause…..until the enviornmentalist wanted to put wind turbines off Martha’s Vineyard. Your great Senator (the Lion) got that quickly squashed because it would interrupt his view. He was a great liberal that wanted to right all the wrongs in the world…and like a true liberal he wanted to do it with other people’s money and not his millions that still smell of bootleg whisky from Daddy. Yeah he was a great man allright….I do not with death upon anyone…not even him. I feel bad for his long suffering wife and kids and especially for Carolyn because Uncle Teddy won’t have the best cookies anymore. I wonder if that is the line he used on Mary Jo.
Truth Seeker
August 27th, 2009
11:06 am
Json….do you want the option of a public plan to go along with your welfare check, food stamps, Clunker Money and the check OBama Lama is gonna send you for the next fabricated bailout?????
axon70
August 27th, 2009
11:07 am
If McCain’s new Kennedy…I guess, “Borack” is new Bush! Reagan! no…Nixon! yeah…Nixon!
Dont be so stupid!
ncgreybr
August 27th, 2009
11:09 am
the evil rich; I doubt if your money is “harder” earned than any of the rest of us. When it goes to the government in the form of taxes, it is the GOVERNMENT’S to spend as THEY see fit. Not like YOU see fit or like I see fit. I disagree with taxes being used to support a war that Bush started because “they tried to kill my daddy”. THAT is a “redistrubution of wealth” to Haliburton and Bush’s other friends. Did you complain about that “redistribution”?
Right now we ARE paying for the healthcare of people who don’t have it. When a person goes to the Emergency Room of a hospital and can’t pay, who do you think picks up the tab? Your fairy godmother? NO! TAXPAYERS FOOT THE BILL!
JSon
August 27th, 2009
11:11 am
Truth seeker, yes I sure do. I don’t mind contributing taxes to help those in need, because you never know when you might end up in need also. I belieive it is the spiritual way. I would like to be more concerned about others than trying to hoard as much money as I can. When you give freely, your supply never runs out…
Truth Seeker
August 27th, 2009
11:13 am
OK JSon…..give it all to me and see if it runs out.
itpdude
August 27th, 2009
11:16 am
McCain as the new TK? I don’t think so. McCain can’t even wax eloquent with a prepared speech.
the evil rich
August 27th, 2009
11:19 am
ncgreybr – your point is what? Because you sound like a wealth re-distributor. The things you talk about funding are NOT what taxes were originally for, but you liberals just keep adding things taxes can do, and I say ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Live within a budget or don’t spend it, PERIOD! And, that was how I felt when Bush was in office.
Gregg
August 27th, 2009
11:22 am
@ the evil rich, Do you even understand what the health care debate is about? Do you know if a person goes to the emergency room now (whether illegal or citizen) and they do not have insurance, you are paying. There are three tenents to life in America (Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness). Tell me how you can do any without adequate health. I have actually read a portion of the document in question and it calls for people on welfare to pay for a portion of the premiums instead of getting them for free as they do know.
Secondly, the redistrubution of wealth is the job of the government (ie. taxes, education). Think about the role of government. This is just like the stimulis money argument, every Republicans was against it. However when it passed they were the first in line trying to get the money for their states.
It is asinine the levels of games that ALL politicans play with us to keep their bases going at the other.
Gregg
August 27th, 2009
11:24 am
@ Truth Seeker did the Cash for Clunker get people to buy new cars when sales were down? Did it get more people hired to meet demand? Temp or not they got paid for an honest days work. Talk about the positive not the negatives all the time and someone may agree with your point if you can make a valid one.
M
August 27th, 2009
11:25 am
RIP Mary Jo Kopechne
RIH Ted the Murderer
ncgreybr
August 27th, 2009
11:26 am
Why is it so difficult to understand “public option”? It’s called “public option” because you have an OPTION! You can take it or you can stay with whatever insurance you already have. Personally I’ll trust a government “bureaucrat” over an insurance “bureaucrat” any day. They only thing the insurance guy is trying to do is save the company some more money.
Did you see the other night? The head of United Health care or whatever the name is, made 750 MILLION DOLLARS in the last 10 years! TREE QUARTERS OF A BILLION DOLLARS!
William
August 27th, 2009
11:34 am
I have nothing to say good about a man who did the things he did until he was 60 years old. The sad thing is that liberals gave him a bye for his behavior. I am glad the Kennedy dynasty is OVER.
Regardless who is negotiating with liberals, the liberals expect the other party to give up their values and beliefs and accept progressive liberalism–then it is called bipartisan. Sorry, I have to bow out of that! Liberals will fail as leaders! Time will prove me right! I only hope it does not take generations to recoup from this misadventure.
Wake up America! Obama is said to be forming a civilian army and it is said there is legislation to provide uniforms for them. SIECH HEIL! SEICH HEIL!
ncgreybr
August 27th, 2009
11:38 am
the evil rich: “The things you talk about funding are NOT what taxes were originally for, but you liberals just keep adding things taxes can do, and I say ENOUGH is ENOUGH.”
Well, I hate to break it to you but we are not 13 colonies like we ORIGINALLY were. The federal government is supporting the military NOT like the states ORIGINALLY were. Doctors are performing heart transplants not making house calls like the ORIGINALLY did. Healthcare professionls aren’t taking chickens in payment like the ORIGINALLY did. Taxes are used for aq lot of things they weren’t ORIGINALLY used for. Don’t mean to break your bubble but the United States have evolved. We’re not what we ORIGINALLY were.
Wayne Peltier
August 27th, 2009
11:38 am
Why can’t we as a moral people take the high ground? The costs must be shared. There can be no other moral solution.
ncgreybr
August 27th, 2009
11:40 am
William:”Wake up America! Obama is said to be forming a civilian army and it is said there is legislation to provide uniforms for them. SIECH HEIL! SEICH HEIL!”
Are we a little low on our meds this morning?
Gregg
August 27th, 2009
11:42 am
@ William it is the idiots preaching and rants that keeps everyone divided. You are trully misguided in your beliefs. Saying that we should have affordable health care is wrong. Ask the millions of GA residents whom are out of work (through no fault of their own) can they afford health care.
As ncgreybr said it is an option or do you not understand what the means. Under the last administration you did not have an option. America is a country of freedoms and if you don’t like the direction it is headed in you are free to leave.
Old Physics Teacher
August 27th, 2009
11:43 am
“Remember there is the larger problem of recruiting our brightest scholars to invest in a medical education.”
WHAT!!?? When did that start? I didn’t know medical schools were begging for more applicants! Last time I looked, the city of Augusta and the MCG were moaning and groaning about Athens getting a satellite campus. The only reason physicians (people mechanics) get paid so much now is because of supply and demand, and the medical schools have restricted the number of physicians. Don’t start a new myth about health care while we’re still arguing over ones that have been with us for the last 50 years.
JSon
August 27th, 2009
11:43 am
Truth seeker, I may be wrong, but somehow I don’t believe that you’re in need…
Wayne, I agree. I believe our country is at a crossroads. We must step up to the plate and make a big change in our hearts and minds.
Gregg
August 27th, 2009
11:44 am
@ Wayne Peltier I agree with you 100% becuase it may one day be me without. So I would like to help solve before it becomes my problem.
ticklepile
August 27th, 2009
11:44 am
Nimrod? Don’t talk about your dad that way. I know you’re jerking off on your big pile of cash as you type lmao.
OneFreeMan
August 27th, 2009
11:52 am
Republicans have made it perfectly clear, they will oppose evrything President Obama proposes. President Obama and the other Democrat Leaders should act in the best interest of the American people and leave those in opposition on the side.
You cannot negotiate with someone not willing to negotiate.
blondval
August 27th, 2009
11:55 am
JSon It’s nice to see Christian comments here. Obviously a Christian attitude is NOT what a lot of the people here have and, yes, I AM my brother’s keeper.
JackLeg
August 27th, 2009
11:57 am
The government should NEVER compete with the private sector. There is an unfair advantage to a competitor that does not work for profit, and can print its own money. The “Public Option” for those of you that don’t seem to understand is the pathway to single payer, just a different name. Just like they call a bill “The Fairness Doctrine” and there is absolutely nothing fair about it. The real truth is that 70% of us get healthcare through work, so why isn’t Obozo helping to create jobs? Please tell me how some idiots could spend over 1 trillion dollars and not create one job? Only a liberal can rationalize that stupidity. On the other hand if they spent that money on insurance for the Americans without insurance they could have covered ALL of them for over 10 years…
ncgrreybr
August 27th, 2009
12:02 pm
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUH! Jackleg:”On the other hand if they spent that money on insurance for the Americans without insurance they could have covered ALL of them for over 10 years…”
That’s what they ARE trying to do and you keep complaining about it.
the evil rich
August 27th, 2009
12:04 pm
Gregg, so the answer is since the poor can’t pay for ER care, we should give them FREE health care? I think NOT!
conservative democrat
August 27th, 2009
12:04 pm
Kayaker 71,
First of all, nothing is pure and almost nothing is simple. Next, the lame examples you use to save money are idiotic. It is totally impractical to send the illegials home. Besides, who will pick all those Vidalia Onions (@$1800/wk) if we ship ‘em all home. Tort reform is a right wing hoax by the insurance lobby to save them money. It’s demagogy. You see, the malpractice premiums that you seem so concerned about are a function of stock and bond prices rather that malpractice awards. Check it out. In the months after tort reform (SB3) passed in Georgia malpractice insurance premiums increased by 30%. The insurance companies are the largest holders of stock and bonds in the US. If the market does good premiums stay low.
Also, the malpractice insurance premiums have nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that hard working Americans deserve the right to health care coverage even if they have a pre-existing condition or whether they happen to be self-employed. These two issues are unrelated and should not be linked together by nuts like you who listen to too much talk radio.
Question
August 27th, 2009
12:16 pm
“They just want to defeat Obama and his policies. They don’t care about getting anything done.”
Unfortunately, PresBo and company try to do anything and everything (regardless of the cost or questions) to meet their agenda — Obama and his supporters at times are quite candid about such a radical spread-the-wealth agenda, voiced best by Rahm Emanuel — “You don’t ever want a crisis to go to waste; it’s an opportunity to do important things that you would otherwise avoid” — or more casually by Obama himself — “My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”
Gregg
August 27th, 2009
12:21 pm
@ the evil rich, We are paying for them anyway. Because they have no insurance they do not go and get checked out until they need the ER. Hospitals can not turn someone away becuase they have no insurance. What do you think we should do with the people who have lost their jobs and can no longer afford health care? Let them suffer too. It is again the haves against the have nots. I want to do something before I become a have not and not when I am there.
ken
August 27th, 2009
12:25 pm
Steve, and OJ was a good guy.
dave
August 27th, 2009
12:28 pm
norman ravitch – “every tragedy made Ted Kennedy a better man. The years have shown, however, that John McCain just gets worse and worse.” To compare the character of Ted K to John M. is so preposterous that it is laughable. Anyone who would even attempt it surely has no understanding of the concept.
Gregg
August 27th, 2009
12:28 pm
@ Question you are taking and twisting things to fit your agenda. Answer, what is wrong with everyone having AFFORDABLE healthcare. Even the insurance companies agree that the premiums have grown out of control and yet they blame the doctors. The doctors blame the insurance companies for their cost of service because they have to carry malpractice insurance. in the end the doctors and big insurance get eat and we get the tab.
One thing you must remember the Government is already in healthcare it is called Medi-care and Medi-cade! Who do you think pays for those?
STFU
August 27th, 2009
12:30 pm
Health care is not a right. It’s a good. Like food and housing. Despite what you Jesus freaks and collectivists want it to be. Just like God is mythology and nothing more oh feeble minded ones, economic laws can not be repealed. Can I get an Amen from the choir!!!!
Beowulf
August 27th, 2009
12:31 pm
Ah, the Christian comments. The Bible says we are to tithe (that’s 10%) of our earnings to the Lord, do that as you may through your church or another charity. Jesus said to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s (taxes), and to God what is God’s (tithes). Above and beyond, Jesus told us to take care of the poor, widows and orphans. Nowhere does it say charity has to be or even should be through the government. Do you think the general masses got anything from the taxes they paid to the Romans? Of course not, they had power-hungry government just as we do. There were benefits to the taxes, namely the protection of the heavy-handed Roman legions, and a semi-orderly court system, but there were no welfare programs. Charity has never been indicated by the Bible as something we should expect others to do for us, we are supposed to do it ourselves. Now, many people feel strongly that we do not do enough to help the poor.
Good! I feel the same way, but I do not want nor expect the government to do my charitable giving for me. It feels so much better to do it yourself, to go down to the food kitchen to feed the hungry, or to assist a family with building a house or helping with living expenses. The hearts of liberals are in the right place in wanting to help the poor. Right wingers need to know that. And left-wingers need to know that many conservative do privately give lots of money, time and tears to the poor. I side with that, mainly because I get to see and experience the benefit of helping people.
We will never get rid of all taxes. We will never get rid of all the greedy people (left or right wing). But we certainly can take responsibility of what we are given, and do with it as God would have us. I’d rather not hand that over to the government to do that for me, I much prefer helping people in person.
Hal
August 27th, 2009
12:32 pm
“One thing you must remember the Government is already in healthcare it is called Medi-care and Medi-cade! Who do you think pays for those?”
–Nobody. They’re both in default.
Real
August 27th, 2009
12:35 pm
To add to Question at 12:16 — someone explain why, as a result of my hard work (including many years of undergrad, grad, and professional school, and resulting loans [which I repaid]) I should be penalized by paying more and more taxes to support the generational government dependent deadbeat parasite in our society? The playing field was not, nor should it be, level at the expense of those who are responsible and live within their means, i.e., quit rewarding failure (or “unlucky” as the libs like to say)!!!
ncgrreybr
August 27th, 2009
12:41 pm
the evil rich: “Gregg, so the answer is since the poor can’t pay for ER care, we should give them FREE health care? I think NOT!”
Tell us what your solution is. Should we let them die if they can’t afford the emergency room or insurance? What is the alternative?
Pat Phelps
August 27th, 2009
12:41 pm
CT…please stop trying to blame President Obama’s failures on the conservatives. The Democrats have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate and a voting majority in the House. They could invoke reconciliation and pass health care with 51 votes. It’s the presidents on party that is the problem.
I don’t mind that we disagree. That will always be the case in this great country. What I do mind is that you liberals are not intellectually honest about what is really going on here.
Gregg
August 27th, 2009
12:41 pm
Have you heard of a doctor rejecting a patient becuase they have either? Even the scooter store can get you a chair if you have either. There is money there but we are going broke trying to put more in there.
sportswoman
August 27th, 2009
12:43 pm
I think she is spot on. Many independents and conservative democrats saw him the same way and like him until he nominated Palin. I would like to see him go back to being the independent thinker he used to be. Going back to getting the people’s business done. Not just apart of the ole’ people that just want to be disagreeable for no other reason than being disagreeable.
William
August 27th, 2009
12:49 pm
You libs will back Obama regardless what plan he puts forth. Who is this health plan going to cover? The healthy? Of course, then the old and the sick will get rationed for care and meds by the government. Taxes will me more than paying for health insurance. You want health insurance! Give up that vacation every year and buy it liberals! Do it for the poor and the unresponsible but do not ask me to do it. If want someone to have healthcare then buy them health insurance. You can do this all on your own.
If you want free health care paid by the tax payers then serve 20yrs in the military. Just do not go to a governement run veteran hospital. You will get death counseling now. A gift by Obama health care.
octex
August 27th, 2009
12:50 pm
Forget your GOD. I have better things to think about than that crap. Millions of people across time have died in the name of GOD. I believe in the corn on my log before flushing it down. GOD believers feel connected, in touch, feel love….. so do I, especially when pinching a loaf. Sigh, so self-diluted, thinking “my way of the highway”. Well, I am an atheist and am as happy as ever! and you, YOU christians that wake me up in early morning, I will make sure my dog will hurt you for trespassing. Sell your tales to someone else to make yourself feel better. GOD = selfishness. (not on topic but had to say).
octex
August 27th, 2009
12:52 pm
Enter your comments here
William
August 27th, 2009
12:53 pm
sportswoman
August 27th, 2009
12:43 pm
Who is disagreeing to be just disagreeable? Were you born last night?
sportswoman
August 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
Take your pick of any current republican!! And NO I wasnt born last night!!
JSon
August 27th, 2009
12:57 pm
Beowulf,
And nowhere in the Bible does it say that helping the poor or the sick can’t be done through the govt. The govt. is not a seperate enitity. We are the govt. and the govt. is us. I can pay my taxes knowing that some of it might go to helping sick people and I can also give whatever I want to whatever charity I choose. Do we choose to have a govt. that cares for it’s people?
Beowulf
August 27th, 2009
1:01 pm
Maybe I wasn’t clear on it – but of course the Bible doesn’t say that governments can’t provide charity. And I won’t say that all of our welfare programs are bad. They just tend to be abused, and unfortunately that comes from the fact that the government workers who are running them are more worried with their own power than doing the moral and ethical thing with the money that has been entrusted to them. I would like to have faith in the gov’t, but they continually disappoint me. So I just tend to be wary of giving them more money to control and waste. If there was a surefire way for accountability, a lot of people would have less issues with the gov’t running things.
William
August 27th, 2009
1:04 pm
JSon
August 27th, 2009
12:57 pm
Json- Who gives more? The government who pays the entire doctor bill or the person who gives all that he has to give. Giving is a personal award not a public award. Why do you trust the government? Tell me something where the government has been successful. Our elected representatives always comes out as rich people. Who do you think they are serving?
Pat Phelps
August 27th, 2009
1:10 pm
JSon – do you actually believe that? Jesus says for us, Christians, to take care of the widows and orphans. We are to obey authorities, meaning government, but not above our calling to God. We were never to push helping and giving off on the government. Thanks to FDR and his wonderful new deal, that has all changed. Everybody looks to the government for a hand out.
ncgrreybr
August 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
William: “If you want free health care paid by the tax payers then serve 20yrs in the military. Just do not go to a governement run veteran hospital. You will get death counseling now. A gift by Obama health care.”
Ahhhhhhhh….actually….that’s been on the books for a dozen years. As a matter of fact, all theu the Bush years. Did Bush have a death panel?
ncgrreybr
August 27th, 2009
1:15 pm
Pat Phelps: “What I do mind is that you liberals are not intellectually honest about what is really going on here.”
“You’re trying to pull the plug on grandma!” or should I say “YOU’RE TRYING TO PULL THE PLUG ON GRANMA!” Yeah! It’s those intellectually dishonest libs that are doing the yelling. FINALLY Barney Frank (who I didn’t used to like but who raised himself a hundredfold in my opinion) told one of them where to go.
Beowulf
August 27th, 2009
1:24 pm
The VA’s “Your Life, Your Choices.” book on death counseling was first published in 1997. It was suspended by the VA during the Bush administration, only to be picked up again in 2009 once President Obama took office. Please get your facts straight, and pay close attention to the mess that is military health care. That is what is coming for all of us, if this monstrosity passes thru Congress. We do need meaningful health reform, but the smaller the role the gov’t plays in it, the better.
JSon
August 27th, 2009
1:27 pm
I agree with you Beowulf. I think we have to keep on making sure that we do all that we can to make our government that most efficient and effective that it can be. Ans that’s an ongoing project because we’re dealing with human nature.
But I just don’t have any probelm with a public option for healthcare because I think it is the best way to serve the poorest amoung us. And I would like to have that option also. And yes, William I do trust the govt. and I think it does alot of things pretty effectively.
RAMBLE ON!!!
August 27th, 2009
1:36 pm
[T]he Kennedy “haters,” to use James Fallows’ word, rarely seemed to include the Republicans who knew Teddy personally. Many ordinary Americans without access to the corridors of power saw it differently. They should not necessarily be discounted as wrong, either. In protesting Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon, Kennedy thundered, “Is there one system of justice for the average citizen and another system for the high and mighty?” These words, uttered five years after Chappaquiddick, are ubiquitous on conservative websites where they are offered up as evidence, not only of Kennedy’s hypocrisy, but the mainstream media’s as well.
Similarly, to movement conservatives, Kennedy’s attack on Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork is offered up as a case study in the press’s historic double standard…
…Cythina, you are a joke…but atleast you get to laugh on the way to the bank.
ncgrreybr
August 27th, 2009
1:39 pm
If I remember correctly it was suspended in 2006 after someone claimed that it was written by a suicide provider. Actually the guy was called to testify a dozen years before in a judicial case and he made some remarks about suicide. THAT made him a “suicide provider”. I actually READ the book. It no more pushes you to pull the plug on yourself than a living will does. It gives valuable insites into making sure THE PATIENT’S requests are respected. If you want to look at the book, it also gives the option of “keep me alive at all costs”.
stands for decibels
August 27th, 2009
1:43 pm
Beowulf @ 1.24, did you ever actually read this book?
Do you really know why it was likely “suspended by the VA” when it was?
I’m thinking “no” on both.
ncgrreybr
August 27th, 2009
1:44 pm
And YES, I DO have a living will.
Beowulf
August 27th, 2009
1:45 pm
What about planting seeds of doubt in people’s minds who might not have had them before? I have seen it too, and attempted to place a link here. Not sure if moderator will let it thru, but it should be fairly easy to find a copy online. It had a link with the original WSJ editorial that sparked the whole recent debate too. My concern is that despite it’s original intent, it may make an already vulnerable elderly person ask questions of themselves that no one should be forced to. Making them wonder if they are more of a burden than they realize – how is that compassionate?
ncgrreybr
August 27th, 2009
1:57 pm
Beowulf: “What about planting seeds of doubt in people’s minds who might not have had them before?”
You mean the seeds that you’re actually human and may die? Guess what? Hate to break it to you BUT we’re ALL going to die! Why is unreasonable to make YOUR wishes known? It wasn’t a “burden” to me when I made my living will.
Do you have a living will? If YOU are in a coma, do you want your spouse (who may collect the insurance) to tell them to pull the plug or do you want YOUR wishes known?
Trudy
August 27th, 2009
2:14 pm
McCain is an idiot. To compare him to Senator Kennedy is a joke.
Uncle Sam
August 27th, 2009
2:21 pm
Come together
right now
over me.
Uncle Sam
August 27th, 2009
2:22 pm
Serious question: how would I be different if we were coming off 8 years of McCain instead of Bush?
ncgrreybr
August 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
Uncle Sam: “Serious question: how would I be different if we were coming off 8 years of McCain instead of Bush?”
We would still have problems but at least our allies wouldn’t be snickering at us.
Beowulf
August 27th, 2009
2:35 pm
ncgrreybr,
Not sure there is much point in arguing with you, I doubt I will change your mind. My concern here is for the depression-susceptible elderly. They are already MORE than aware of their mortality, I would contend. What I hate to think of is someone who has a loving support network behind them as they move into the last few years, and who may have been content with what they and their family had discussed. But then say someone gives them this book, and they read it, and start to wonder. That is a normal human reaction when you read this. I don’t think the authors meant it to be used in a negative way, but a further study of the psychology of depression may have been warranted. An elderly person may start to feel that their burden is higher than their life warrants. Nobody should ever be made to feel that way, intentionally or otherwise. I know I would never give this to my grandparents, rather I might read it myself and then discuss the pertinent topics. I know that conservatives are not supposed to be compassionate, but golly I just can’t help myself.