Responses to this post...

1. Oh my! The good news? He had a run of 2-3 fun months in office. Oh, and Libpat–this is from the Times, not the Post ;-)

   A substantial majority of Americans say President Obama has not developed a strategy to deal with the budget deficit, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll, which also found that support for his plans to overhaul health care, rescue the auto industry and close the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, falls well below his job approval ratings.

   Posted by pino
   June 18th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

2. Ok, not my most eloquent post, I’ll admit.

   But seriously, read the article.

   I’ve never thought much of Barney Frank, but how he can support this brief and still look at himself in the mirror is beyond me.

   And how Joel can talk about ‘Obama’s efforts to support gay rights’ REALLY puzzles me, unless you were being sarcastic, Joel?

   Obama is doing the minimum amount of window dressing on gay rights, while avoiding doing anything substantial.

   Pathetic.

   Joel Reply:
   June 18th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

   I think that everyone can agree that Obama has made some efforts. The question is whether those efforts have gone far enough.

   

   Um Cara Reply:
   June 18th, 2009 at 10:56 pm

   Yea! My first post ever deleted.

   Thanks!

   And no, I don’t agree that Obama has made some ‘efforts’ with regard to gay rights. He has made some efforts at appearing to give a (word deleted, synonym for ‘excrement’).

   Obama is a (first name for Mr. Morris).

   Joel Reply:
   June 18th, 2009 at 11:04 pm

   You’re calling the president a Richard?

   

   Um Cara Reply:
   June 18th, 2009 at 11:14 pm

   ;^)

   Yep, sorry for being cranky.

   But this really bothers me. And I’m starting to see a pattern.

   

   Gay Rob Reply:
   June 18th, 2009 at 11:25 pm

   Obama was all for “same sex marriage” in 1996, and I have the all information to prove it. Apparently, the issue for “pro choice” was safer to defend than gay marriage and that’s why he flip flopped as the presidential campaign progressed.

   

   Gay Rob Reply:
   June 18th, 2009 at 11:32 pm

   You are absolutely correct…It is just window dressing.
   Alot of gay people have this “wishful thinking” that somehow he will change his mind if he gets another four years in office but don’t hold your breath.

   Posted by Um Cara
   June 18th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

3. Will Foxy news take a “Wide Stand” on John Ensign,
   just like they did with John Edwards?

   Posted by pierre
   June 18th, 2009 at 10:04 pm

4. PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE GREATEST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY?!

   HE’S BEEN IN OFFICE FOR A FEW MONTHS! GEEZE!

   (And I just heard some age-related bigotry from Alan making fun of McCain’s age! But it was funny.)

   

   pierre Reply:
   June 18th, 2009 at 11:06 pm

   Obama- the deficit in chief all time- quadruples the
   deficit in just a few months, said fox news(hannity).
   And now they want to interview the president(cavuto).
   What % of the deficit is due Fox-backed Bush/Cheney
   administration?

   Posted by flap
   June 18th, 2009 at 10:40 pm

5. But this really bothers me. And I’m starting to see a pattern.

   Against my better judgment, and maybe cause I bought OldLefty a beer, but…..

   I TOLD you so.

   Love,
   -p

   Posted by pino
   June 18th, 2009 at 11:35 pm

6. In the last two decades, the world has spent more than $196 billion trying to save people from death and disease in poor countries.

   Millions of people are now protected against diseases like yellow fever, sleeping under anti-malaria bed nets and taking AIDS drugs.

   But there isn’t much proof that pricey programs led by the United Nations and its partners are responsible, according to two studies published Friday in the medical journal, Lancet.

   In the spirit of the UN, lets implement government controlled health care in America!

   Posted by pino
   June 19th, 2009 at 12:09 am

7. And this one too:

   White House (CNSNews.com) – Two days after President Barack Obama told the American Medical Association that in some countries a single-payer health care system “works pretty well,” the White House reaffirmed that people in those countries liked their health care, but also said it did not know to which countries the president was referring.

   “I don’t know exactly the countries. I think if you talk to the people in the countries that have that system, they think their health care is pretty good,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told CNSNews.com Wednesday during the daily press briefing.

   Awesome.

   

   anonymouse Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 1:00 am

   http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rescind17-2009jun17,0,5870586.story

   Executives of three of the nation’s largest health insurers told federal lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday that they would continue canceling medical coverage for some sick policyholders, despite withering criticism from Republican and Democratic members of Congress who decried the practice as unfair and abusive.

   The hearing on the controversial action known as rescission, which has left thousands of Americans burdened with costly medical bills despite paying insurance premiums, began a day after President Obama outlined his proposals for revamping the nation’s healthcare system.

   Awesome. Tone deaf, but awesome.

   

   GuidoVanHorn Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 2:30 am

   I think some states have laws against that…perhaps you should lobby your state legislature to remedy the loophole.

   

   anonymouse Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 1:08 am

   “When insurance companies go under oath and admit they are canceling innocent patients when they get sick, it makes it very difficult for lawmakers to pass a law that requires every American to buy a policy or face a tax fine. It opens the way for a public option to hold the companies in check.”

   Awesome.

   Posted by pino
   June 19th, 2009 at 12:12 am

8. It’s not “government healthcare”.

   It’s single-payer, government sponsored health insurance. That’s what they’re talking about and nothing more.

   No one was ever healed by an insurance company. Insurance companies are only parasites, bloodsuckers. It’s high time to either reign ‘em in or put ‘em completely out of business.

   The health insurance industry proposal to “reduce the rate of premium increase” as their only contribution to improving the current situation is only proof of their moral bankruptcy and narcissism.

   Colmes’s cracker callers aren’t doing themselves (or their race) any favors by showing off their “intellect” via ATT. Sometimes it’s better to stay quiet.

   

   JaredfromTexas Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 6:14 am

   ANON,

   Huh…you can tell all the people who are calling in to the show are “crackers”? Salty or plain?

   Racist idiot.

   

   anonymouse Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 2:38 pm

   A “cracker” is a poor, white Southerner.

   Lots of kids, several dogs, a shotgun, an ATV, a good Saturday night drunk followed by Sunday morning church and a devotion to rightwing talk radio are the cracker’s common themes. Texas is the western edge of the country they inhabit. Generally, cracker-country is east of Dallas.

   Colmes oddly has a big cracker following, the heavy Southern accents are your first clue.

   The South will rise AGAIN!!!!

   

   flap Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

   “The South will rise AGAIN!!!!”

   We will?

   “Lots of kids, several dogs, a shotgun, an ATV, a good Saturday night drunk followed by Sunday morning church and a devotion to rightwing talk radio…”

   Damn it, how have you been spying on me?

   

   JaredfromTexas Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

   ANON,

   What an absolute pathetic attempt at justification for using a racially charged moniker…

   Your mommy must be so proud…wait…that’s the Rainbow Coalition…they just had a job opening for you.

   Posted by anonymouse
   June 19th, 2009 at 12:58 am

9. Executives of three of the nation’s largest health insurers told federal lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday that they would continue canceling medical coverage for some sick policyholders,

   The article goes on to say that the insured did not mention that they were sick.

   Insurance companies are only parasites, bloodsuckers. It’s high time to either reign ‘em in or put ‘em completely out of business.

   Then don’t buy their products. Insure yourself.

   

   anonymouse Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 2:22 am

   “The article goes on to say that the insured did not mention that they were sick.”

   No. That’s not what the article said at all, cracker. Read it again and try to pay attention this time …

   But rescission victims testified that their policies were canceled for inadvertent omissions or honest mistakes about medical history on their applications. Rescission, they said, was about improving corporate profits rather than rooting out fraud.

   “It’s about the money,” said Jennifer Wittney Horton, a Los Angeles woman whose policy was rescinded after failure to report a weight-loss medication she was no longer taking and irregular menstruation.

   A Texas nurse said she lost her coverage, after she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, for failing to disclose a visit to a dermatologist for acne.

   The sister of an Illinois man who died of lymphoma said his policy was rescinded for the failure to report a possible aneurysm and gallstones that his physician noted in his chart but did not discuss with him.

   The committee’s investigation found that WellPoint’s Blue Cross targeted individuals with more than 1,400 conditions, including breast cancer, lymphoma, pregnancy and high blood pressure. And the committee obtained documents that showed Blue Cross supervisors praised employees in performance reviews for rescinding policies.

   One employee, for instance, received a perfect 5 for “exceptional performance” on an evaluation that noted the employee’s role in dropping thousands of policyholders and avoiding nearly $10 million worth of medical care.

   It’s not about fraud. It’s about money, cracker.

   

   GuidoVanHorn Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 2:26 am

   Why are you so hateful Anonymouse?

   

   JFA Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

   ANON, if you can will you define “cracker” Thanks.

   Posted by pino
   June 19th, 2009 at 1:45 am

10. Anyone catch Sen Boxer being an arse to an Army General?

    Absolutely unbelievable the arrogance of our elected officials…

    …love to see the left try to spin this one as another over-reaction by the right…

    

    OldLefty Reply:
    June 19th, 2009 at 6:32 am

    Why would anybody care?

    If it were a man or a Republican, you guys would congratulate her.

    Does he call the males Sir or Senator?

    Is she more petty than those who latch onto it as an issue?

    

    JaredfromTexas Reply:
    June 19th, 2009 at 7:30 am

    OLD LEFTY,

    Seriously? Why would anyone care? How ’bout it’s because he’s spent his entire life rising through the ranks of the Army based on performance and devotion to country, while Ms Boxer got elected to a position based on political promises (which, if her record is any indication…the promises have pretty well fallen flat on their arses).

    If it were a man or a Republican, you guys would congratulate her.

    HA! Way to point the finger, OLD LEFTY…deflection isn’t your best debate move…

    And by “you guys” I’m assuming you’re being quite disingenuous and lumping all conservatives and republicans into one basket again?

    He calls all higher ranking officers “Sir” or “Ma’am”…that’s just the way the military works. I don’t have a clue if he calls male Senators “Senator” or not…that’s not the point of my post, now is it?

    Deflection, again…poor form

    Is she more petty than those who latch onto it as an issue?

    It IS an issue…the fact that she thinks she can talk down to a career military General in this fashion is beyond the pale…(especially with her abysmal record).

    I can’t, for the life of me, understand why/how you’re standing up for this ridiculous display of arrogance…

    

    OldLefty Reply:
    June 19th, 2009 at 7:44 am

    It is a silly issue.
    It sounds like the fan who thinks their team should have gone to the championship, and picks and picks on anything they can find to bash the team who is there.

    You can pick on any member of Congress you want and call their record abysmal, while someone else calls it stellar, so what?

    You say,
    “I can’t, for the life of me, understand why/how you’re standing up for this ridiculous display of arrogance…”

    I’m sorry, but particularly after the GOP’s theatrics over the last 16 years, it seems like a party who has nothing else but crotchety nitpicking.

    

    JaredfromTexas Reply:
    June 19th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    OLD LEFTY,

    Not sure why my last response wasn’t posted…

    It most certainly is NOT a silly issue…let’s put the shoe on the other foot, shall we?

    I’d have liked the General to retort with something to the effect of: “Sure, I’ll call you ‘Senator’…but if we’re going to get hung up on titles…then I’ll expect you to reciprocate (which she never did, by the way). You see, Senator…while you may have been elected based on empty political promises…and your record certainly reflects your willingness to NOT do what you’d promised…I have achieved my title through a career of exemplary performance in my duties. Your title can be taken away from you with a stroke of a voting pen…mine can only be taken away with Congressional approval. Perhaps you forget who is working for whom…right, Senator?”

    You can bet the left-wing windbags would have jumped all over this as disrespect for a sitting Senator…and a woman…there’s no denying that. So, once again…the double standard rears its head…yes?

    You’re suggestion that this is the “losing team” nitpicking the winner….well, hang on, lady…because it’s time to repay in kind…or don’t you remember the left-wing’s constant whining over the last 8 years?

    

    OldLefty Reply:
    June 19th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    JaredfromTexas,

    It most certainly IS a silly NON issue… Putting the shoe on the other foot, would be if she called him Mr. or Sir.

    The general did not say what you want him to say because it’s not his job or place to determine who was elected on empty promises, or not, (Not like Republicans, of course….only Democratic VOTERS are duped).

    And there are enough Military people who could say the same thing to the Republicans like Cheney, starting with, “even though you got your five deferments for the war YOU claimed to believe in….” or Bush, “Even though you got Daddy to get you into the Champagne Unit, and ran away on 9/11….”

    I don’t think most people who are not disgruntled McCain/Palin supporters even notice this.

    I found the treatment of Gen Shinseki and Spec. Thomas Wilson an ACTUAL big deal.

    What losing/ winning team?

    Don’t YOU remember the right wing’s constant whining over the last 25 years…. ‘The media is against us, Hollywood is against us, the culture is against us, the colleges are against us, the minorities are against us, labor unions are against us…..women are against us….”??

    Posted by JaredfromTexas
    June 19th, 2009 at 6:11 am

11. How about the “sorry double standard” of Democrats Alan who only accept apologies from members of their own party?

    Posted by Daddio
    June 19th, 2009 at 8:01 am

12. Interesting to see that Obama’s regulation enhancements don’t include the two agencies responsible for the mess; Fannie and Freddie:

    Absent from Treasury’s 88-page proposal were any new regulations for the government-run mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two organizations widely cited as being at the heart of the country’s fiscal problems.

    The absence of either Fannie or Freddie is notable, because the two companies once owned or controlled nearly $6 trillion worth of home and commercial mortgages, nearly half of the total U.S. mortgage market – and both companies were pioneers of the now infamous sub-prime mortgages that caused the mortgage market to implode late last year.

    In analyzing the mortgage crisis, economist Walter E. Williams has written: “Starting with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, that was given more teeth during the Clinton administration, Congress started intimidating banks and other financial institutions into making loans, so-called sub-prime loans, to high-risk homebuyers and businesses.

    “The carrot offered was that these high-risk loans would be purchased by the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Anyone with an ounce of brains would have known that this was a prescription for disaster but there was a congressional chorus of denial,” he added.

    “The financial collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is not a failure of the free market because lending institutions in a free market would not have taken on the high-risk loans,” said Williams. “They were forced to by the heavy hand of government.”

    cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=49791

    

    Um Cara Reply:
    June 19th, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    Hey, if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it!

    ;^)

    

    pino Reply:
    June 19th, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    That’s right. Why would The Blessed Leader shut down his gravy train.

    Posted by pino
    June 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am