NLV-indep13:"And some, like Ventura, obviously take an extremely leftist and elitist view; personally I kind of like the working class and elderly -- they tend to be a rather honest & decent sort."
I tend to like the working class also since I'm one of them. We obviously have a different view of who, and why, the Republican Party is directing their rhetoric towards the lower end of the spectrum. If the "Birthers", and the people trying to scare the elderly with talk of euthanasia and the fear of losing their health insurance to socialism, are who you feel make up the Republican base, then yes, you can call me lefty.
If you think a fair debate among intelligent individuals is warranted over this most important issue relative to America's solvency, then you can call me an elitist. I don't give a rat's butt. Just cut the BS and upgrade the arguments.
FTR I have long been a registered Independent and wouldn't have any part of either of our two prominent political parties. However I do recognize the importance of the system and I don't like seeing the Republicans making fools of themselves, groveling for votes at the bottom of the barrel, or as you have so generously elevated them to, "the working class."

Edwards deserves all he gets because he was not up front with his wife who was in a bad situation to begin with. They both deserve a bit of a pass due to the hardship of losing a child which is usually devastating to a marriage.

Tells you all you need to know about FAUX News!

You go Teaser! Hit the nail squarely on the head!

Arguing about whether Democrats or Republicans have the lead in sex scandals is juvenile, but funny, so please, keep it up.
IMO Ensign's situation, due to his setting himself up as a "Promise Keeper" is the only case that merits further scrutiny due to the degree of hypocrisy he exhibited. Troubling!
The rest of them have low sexual morals and some problems with honesty. Judge them on that.
FYI since 1970 the Dems hold a 2 sex scandal edge over the Republicans. Go G.O.P.!

McCain after Russia invaded Georgia: "Today we are all Georgians".
Rhetoric means nothing. It's hard to determine whether this quote helped the Republic of Georgia any more than it did the city of Atlanta.

A few days ago I wrote about my family's newest experience with our 37th ranked health care system. Maybe these facts can help explain our low ratings
Researching ER costs around the country I determined that the cost of an emergency room visit averages about $4,600. A recent 10 hour visit by my wife after a possible heart problem totaled $9,200. I'll use the $4,600 figure as the average, but as best I can determine my indication is that the average cost is higher.
Insurance companies must put the fear of God, or more importantly the fear of non-payment, into physicians to not order MRI's, which are far more reliable but of course more expensive than x-rays. I've determined that the average cost of an MRI at $1,500 and the cost of x-rays at about $150.
My 6 year old granddaughter began having severe knee pain about 3 weeks ago and saw her pediatrician. X-rays were taken with negative results. Visit $250 plus x-rays $150 = $400, with no relief.
Next up an orthopedist. Visit, lets estimate at $400, plus more X-rays $150 = $550. Negative results with no relief from intensifying pain.
An emergency room visit was necessary at $4,600 with more X-rays and no results, an increase in pain medication and a recommendation to see a specialist.
While waiting to see a specialist and now in much more intense pain, another middle of the night ER visit was necessary and more X-rays were taken again with negative results, another $4,600.
She finally gets to see an orthopedic specialist, let's estimate another $450, who finally recommends an MRI. Then the wait for an "approval" began while this child suffered greatly and her conditioned worsened. Finally at her wits end her mother called the insurance company and demanded an MRI be done immediately and it finally happened, $1,500.
The MRI resulted in what was thought to be a tumor on her knee and surgery had to be scheduled the following morning. Fortunately after surgery the problem turned out to be a rare bone infection in her kneecap and not a tumor, but still a very serious condition which could have turned out a lot worse without attention. Her condition, which may have been avoided or lessened with earlier detection, will now require a month or more of intravenous antibiotics and thousands more in costs, and hopefully a full recovery.
My point is that $10,600 has been spent so far, most likely trying to avoid a $1,500 MRI. $9,100 wasted and this child had her life endangered because of our malfunctioning health care system that is in the hands of administrators who are stifling quality health care. That's the system I know and the system that needs changing. Take the profit out of health care and the quality will go up and, based on this experience and many like it, the cost should come down.
I hope you healthy people stay healthy but mark my words, your time is coming!

DouglasDemocrat: Great point. Most people don't realize that the money their employer contributes for medical insurance is actually the employees money. If everyone's $12,000 ( ours is actually $12,954 ) in annual premiums paid to insurance companies could be pooled in the form of a giant reserve to cover everyone, just think how many billion$ would be saved in corporate profiteering and multi-million dollar salaries.
If every other industrialized country has figured out a way to provide healthcare for all their citizens, what does it say about America that we cannot. We have fallen from leading the world in many economic, social, and technological areas, and remain #37 in world healthcare rankings. Soon China and India will be surpassing us as leaders in many categories including cultivation of their most important assets, their citizens and workforces. Let's hope we can come out of the dark ages regarding healthcare before the insurance companies and lobbyists buy off our leaders once again, and target the uninformed with their scare tactics.

My granddaughter has been in pain for 10 days with an injured knee waiting for an MRI to be approved by an insurance company.
I hope all of you healthcare reform naysayers get to have a similar experience such as a 6 year old crying with an ice bag on her knee and unable to sleep at night while our wonderful health care bueracracy pushes papers. You're all a bunch of healthy fools but your're in for a big surprise when you have a health problem.
Maybe we should take her to Canada.

Well said Johnathan! Let's hope it plays out that way.