Funny that no one mentions what else is in this "Heath Bill"

Health Disparities – the bill specifically designates LGBT people as a health disparities population, opening up health data collection and grant programs focused on health disparities related to sexual orientation and gender identity. With collection of data and funding of research, we can better address the specific health issues facing LGBT people.
Unequal Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits – the bill ends the unfair taxation of employer-provided domestic partner health benefits, incorporating the language of the Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act. Without this tax penalty, more people will be able to afford employer-provided coverage for their families, and more companies will be able to offer these important benefits.
Early Treatment for HIV under Medicaid – the bill also incorporates the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which allows states to cover early HIV treatment under their Medicaid programs, instead of withholding treatment for Medicaid recipients until they develop full-blown AIDS, This will dramatically improve the quality of life for low-income people with HIV, as well as saving taxpayers money and reducing the transmission of the virus.
Comprehensive Sex Education – the bill provides funding for comprehensive sex education programs that focus not only on abstinence, but also reducing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. After more than $1 billion wasted on failed and discriminatory abstinence-only programs, this funding will provide youth, including LGBT students, with the tools they need to live healthy lives.
Non-discrimination – the bill prohibits consideration of personal characteristics unrelated to the provision of health care. HRC worked with a coalition of civil rights groups to develop and lobby for this language and we believe it will help protect LGBT people from discrimination in the health care system, where there are currently no federal protections for our community.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but...it's been several days since the Ft. Hood incident. I don't understand why there has not been a thread posted on it.

Back to the thread..."LMAO at Aires....Lawyer, Liarrrrr.....been watching Madea?" -- Name

Nope, never heard of Madea.

Abdul; First off, it has historicaly been about 1/3 on each end of the spectrum, with the remainder going vacilitating between either side, or indifferent to the particular cause. You were close though.
Second; The country has been moving to the right since the mid 70's, and the Republicans have been purging the party of liberals (Nelson Rockefeller types need not apply) ever since in order to maintain ideological purity. They have succeeded. In doing so, they have alienated a lot of voters because the country is not that far right.
The Democrats, being a politically incohesive party, and especially now when they need the votes in Congress, are turning up the heat on their conservative members who vote with them only slightly more often than they do the Republicans.
The Dems historically cannot enact legislation unless they have the W.H. and overwhelming majorites in both houses, and then just barely. The Reps do not have this problem as they enforce the party line very well. This mostly stems from the Dems being an all-inclusive party, catering to everyone, whereas the Reps have a narrower base. And the fact that the Reps are simply just better at politics. They know the value of cohesiveness in congress.
Right now, as all can see, the Reps are simply stalling and being obstructionist, trying to "run out the clock" until the midterm election. They know that the party in power almost always loses power then, especially if they cannot accomplish anything. Hence, their obstructionism. The Reps won't be content to just vote No, they will threaten to fillibuster anything the Dems put forth. This is something the Dems don't threaten near as much. (I say "threaten" because anymore an actual fillibuster is a rarity)
Personaly, if I were H. Reid, I'd make `em fillibuster for a week to show the country how much the Reps don't want anything to change. That would ensure the Dems of an off-season victory and get the conservative Dems back in line. But, once again, the Dems aren't that good at politics.
As it stands now my friend, you have no place in the Republican party, they don't want you. I know you try, what with rockin' that Republican look with the freudian cigar and all, but unless you're willing to drink their Kool-Aid you won't be truly "in."

LMAO at Aires....Lawyer, Liarrrrr.....been watching Madea?

Rico, you can wallow in your pathetic interpretations all you want. It is a fact that most Americans are NOT satisfied with the health care system's financial side...it's been running amuk for decades. That lack of national, collective and consistent oversight has allowed insurance companies, as just one part of the problem, to escape meaningful regulation for a long time. The 50-state patchwork regulatory system is so full of loopholes, it's like Swiss cheese. And don't think the insurers fail to recognizer that.

Tort reform. What a joke of an issue to hang your hat on...go ahead and reform it. Indiana has one of the nation's "best" medical tort laws, put in place by a doctor governor whose tax policies have choked us since 1973. He doubled the sales tax, in case you've forgotten, and put in place a restrictive med malpractice cap.

Which has not worked.

So much for your solutions.

We've done it your way for a long time, Rico. It's broken. Beyond repair.

Step aside. Those footsteps you hear in the background are President Obama and mindful legislators who will change this system. With or without you. (Note once again, like it or not, your failure to address our President with respect is indicative of your level of common understanding of protocol and decorum.)

Jump in. The water's warm.

And any time you want to debate the founders' intent, have at it. It won't be a fair fight, tho.

Poof. Be gone.

"...and separation of church and state (where again is that in our Constitution)". -- Rico

Rico, it was placed in 'case law' by a Lawyer in a Robe (aka LiaR).

pssst: any Hoosier who claims they are a registered Republican or Democrat is woefully ignorant of basic law, civics and political process. *cough*Rico*cough* The only time any party interest of a voter gets noticed is just in a spring Primary Election where you express a one-time-only preference. Some other states do have a party registration process but not Indiana!

Okay, a-hole. You got me. You're smarter than all of us!! I am humbled at the depth and breadth of your knowledge. Shouldn't you be diving into someone's dumpster about now? Oh, I'm sorry. It'll be better after dinner. That way you'll know what your political enemies (aka Carson political enemies) eat. Hell, you may get some good scraps too. Enjoy!

"Rico" is such the model of Christian chastity of speech and modesty of demeanour ! Stay classy, Rico. Stay classy...

Always interesting when "our founding fathers" are used as "they would not have done that or that"--with all due respect to them for what they did--in their time they would have been terrorist and liberals (wanted to change things from what "was the norm"/status quo). Also they were racist, sexist, and a whole lot of things that might not be acceptable today. Sometimes labels just do not quite explain what the philosophies are for someone. One can easily have a mix of things they believe to be best practices or what they are most comfortable with in their lives or work or government. One could be an economic conservative in their personal investments and yet liberal in their beliefs on same sex marriage, or racial matters, or even state of health care. One could believe is so little government as to want virtually none except for the services they do believe they deserve---in all opinions expressed here and elsewhere often are way more polar than most people would be completely comfortable with in all aspects of their lives.

There are true conservatives in the GOP, Mike. They are the exception, but they are there. I register as a Republican, but I, like many Americans, consider myself a conservative in need of a party.
And I'm pro-life, so please don't suggest the Libertarian Party.

Rico -

Sorry but it has been proven time and time again Republicans have never been conservative. They preach it but never put it in practice. Even when they balanced the budget with Clinton it was because of growth in the GDP not less spending. So while Republicans talk a good game they have never put those prinicples into action.

Good point, Nick. That last post was a response for the alleged lifelong republican.

And your point is what? That Republicans are as stupid as Democrats? A Democrat won Indiana because the GOP chose a weak Republican to lead the ticket. Many republicans stayed home in disgust. Do you actually think that Republicans like John McCain have helped the party? You couldn't be more wrong. The GOP got it's butt beat in 2008 because they have ceased being conservative. It's your way of thinking that has been a poison to the party. Perhaps you'd be more at home as a Democrat. As I wrote before, we don't need ya!

Judging by your comments about government interference in the bedroom and separation of church and state (where again is that in our Constitution), I would say you are exactly the kind of republican who has blurred the lines between the parties. That blurring is what got John McCain's ass kicked last Novemeber. Conservatives are tired of 'reaching across the aisle' to people like Reid, Pelosi, Rangel, Dodd, Frank, Kerry, etc., etc., etc. These people are the enemy of liberty loving Americans. If true conservatives (like Indiana's Mike Pence) cannot take back the party from the so-called republicans who have been running the show, then I want nothing to do with the GOP. And if conservatives can take the party back and you believe we're too far to the right, then, by all means, jump ship and join the other side. You won't be missed.

Recently drove past William Henry Harrison’s house in Indianapolis.

You know, the 8th U.S. President from Indiana’s WHIG party.

Some people still celebrate his glorious thirty days of national leadership.

Think about it.

Dude,

William Henry Harrison had homes in Vincennes and Corydon when he was the governor of the Indiana Territories. He never had a home in Indianapolis.

By the way, he was the Whig candidate from Ohio where he lived in North Bend. He was never associated with the Indiana Whig Party.

Benjamin Harrison had a home in Indianapolis, however. Your knowledge of history is as poor as your knowledge of current politics.

Honest mistake, President Benjamin Harrison was a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, both of which had Indiana connections.

Recently drove past William Henry Harrison's house near downtown Indianapolis.

You know, Indiana's only U.S. President from Indiana's WHIG Party.

His thirty days of fame in are still celebrated by some.

Think about it.

Perspective:

Remember, a Democrat won the first Presidential bid in Indiana by gaining an unprecedented majority of Republican votes.

I think Republicans need MORE friends, better solutions, different media representation, and LESS Pro-Life, Christian, & Immigrant ideological purges.

Abdul,

You are right.

The national Republican party appears to be run by Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck that have abandoned "Reagan Republicans" for "Conservatives" who spout government control in the bedroom, destruction of the separation of church and state, and Pat Buchanan's anti-immigrant nonsense that was soundly rejected in his Republican Presidential primary bid years ago.

The informed public has not forgotten that George Bush presided over the destruction of our economy, abandoned fiscal prudence with government spending, expanded the Federal government, and worked with Former Treasury Secretary Paulson to start private industry takeovers and government bailouts.

Quite possibly, George Bush was the largest RINO in our lifetimes.

The national party needs to get back to basics.

Judging by your last post, I would say that if you are, in fact, a lifelong republican, then you are no older than 6 years old.

While you may be correct about government spending during the Bush years, our current president has already outspent (or attempting to outspend) his predecessor in less than a year. Barry took a bad situation (over which he presided in the Senate) and made it much, much worse. And he's only scratched the surface on the damage he wants to do.

And which republicans are pushing for government control in the bedroom? Only a few dim-witted posters on here (who shall remain nameless) would ever believe you're a republican or ever have been. And Reagan was a conservative first, then a republican.

Rico,

I and my entire family are life long registered Republican that have supported the party with votes, contributions, and elected party representation. .

The truths, however painful, that I wrote in response to Abdul's post, in no way excuses the current Congress or President for their actions.

Republicans lost the game because they are no longer seen as the party of fiscal conservatives, and rightly so. The notion that the GOP lost because of social conservativism makes a nice sound bite and fits into what the media likes to say about Republicans, but it's not really supported by any polling evidence.

I like how Abdul says he's conservative on one hand, but 'progressive' on the other. I refuse to accept the premise that liberals are in any way progressive. Unless, of course, 'progress' can be defined by how human life is being devalued and how many traditional institutions are attacked.
TA: First of all, when you 'put your ear to the ground', you're not supposed to put your whole head in the dirt. The fact is that an overwhelming majority of Americans are happy with their healthcare. Does it need fixing? Perhaps. Does it need a complete overhaul? Not by a long shot. The folks in which you have confidence in reforming our healthcare system can't even get the flu vaccine right.
You use the word 'obstructionist' as if it's a bad thing. In this case, obstructionists may be our only hope of saving this country. I'm proud of anyone attempting to obstruct our radical president and his minions in Congress from tearing apart this great nation. Your so-called reformers don't have a clue or don't care what our founders had in mind. And, by the way, the scumbag leadership in Congress will never allow tort reform to pass. Even the DNC head Howard Dean admitted that the Dems don't want to anger the trial lawyers by doing so.

And was anyone else disgusted by President ACORN's press conference after the tragedy at Ft. Hood? What a patriot!

The coming collapse of America is unfolding before our very eyes. Just like with the local property tax cap mess, vast numbers of people will not complain and protest until _after_ they have been screwed/raped.

This is just the start of the coming collapse. I can't wait till we get this government paid for health care bill. I am very good with my money, and as such, I could almost save enough money over the next five years to pay off my home, and have enough saved for future vehicle, food, etc. type purchases. That means I can quit my job, sit on my ass all day playing on the internet and watching TV, while you all pay for me and my families health care. If I have kids, I will be able to be a stay at home parent. Not working would be best for me, as with my wife's tiny salary (if she decides to keep working full-time, who knows), we would meet the federal definition of poor if we have kids. That would at least get us some food stamps. Free food and health care, not having to wake up at 5AM to go and do actual work....what is not to love about this plan? Not only that, if I don't make any income besides a couple thousand from interest, my kids will likely be even more eligible for free or reduced schooling.

My only wish is that it would come sooner, as I know many, many people in their early 60s who would love to retire on another person's dime, but can't because they can't afford, or get, private health care to hold them over till they hit Medicare.

Amen. Amen.

Inserted into the House health care reform bill, is a provision that changes the tax status of gay partners cohabitating. For health insurance/benefit purposes only...it's way overdue.

And your network's Glen Beck, Hannity, et al, will be all over this, because they view it as a pouncing point for 2010...which is shameful.

Here's a prediction: all the nay-sayers about Democrats losing big next year--watch out. I understand that even the revered House Minority Leader now has a credible and potentially-well-funded Democratic opponent. Who is being raised up by voters who are mad as hell that obstructionist politics block reform.

If you put your ear to the ground here in middle America, there is widespread agreement that the health care situation has to change.

But the opponents on Sat. actually accused reformers of being unAmerican. Unpatriotic.

The House bill is not the final answer. But the debate was ugly, RINO- and DINO-dominated, and unfit for students of government. Especially when you look at the obstuctionists' funders: the pharma/big health lobby gave out millions in the last cycle, 79% to Republicans. And they employed over 700 paid lobbyists from Jan.1 to now.

This is wherre Rico makes a snotty comment, and Wilson or someone answers back....that's part of the noise machine we've got to endure these days.

We have some other important issues Congress must decide in the next 120 days: Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, tort reform, energy...if the debate will be like this weekend's, count me out.

I can watch cartoons with my grandkid. I learn more.

So if I am gay (ok I'm not) I will get to take the person I am living with a "partner" of the same sex, the tax code will change. The question I have if I have a girlfriend living with me will this also apply? If not then gays will be a special group under the tax code and it would be discriminatory.

Well said. This very much like my own views and while a registered D simply can not support several of their points when pushed to the far left. Actually my voting record both as a voter and when as an official voting on matters is not consistent with either parties thus guess I am a DINO by some measurers. Simply believe that too often elected officials are forced to follow the edicted line of thought rather than seeking to represent the folks back home or "for the better good" of all. Do not know, just maybe I am an Independent or some other label.