Shirley,

Thanks... 

I also think that people should be given financial help with school based on their income, not their race.  That burns me up! 

It also burns me up when a woman gets a job and takes it from a man, but they can't do it, and they need help.  Some of the women that worked with my dh couldn't do the job and they needed TWO women for every MAN....

Harley

Rosemary,

I think that Republican expectations were so low that we are actually somewhat pleased with his nominations. Liberals on the other hand had quite a few high and some unrealistic expectations and are destined to be very disappointed. 

Rosemary, Mr. Obama would make a very good used car salesman! 

But you do have those who make excuses for what he's doing HINT HINT<--------------------------------. However, I'm hoping he won't go looney on us and feel pressured by the extreme lefties to do something foolish.  And once you see "the writing on the wall" I'm sure things change...YES CHANGE...from where you were sitting before.  President Bush has made sure he's up on everything according to what I read.  This man is not experienced and he needs all the experience around him he can get.  So, he brings back in the Clintons.  I bet B. Clinton still hasn't spoken to Richardson.  The last time I heard Richardson asked that quesiton the answer was "no." 

Shirley

ijl i know it is very aggravating for ANYONE to be discriminated against, moral decline for EVERYONE.  It is not fair for someone to be advanced along just because of race, sex or age and it isnt fair to be held back for the reasons either.

I pray that in 4 years I am "eating crow" over BO.  I truly hope he can get this country back where it belongs.  I pray that he is a christian and that his heart is convicted by God.  It would be the best crow I have ever eaten and I will be happy to post over <---------- and tell them how wrong I was.

Well, looks like Gov. Blagojevich and the "other guy" has been arrested.  At 12 noon ET there will be a news conference.  He was taped.  Seems like he was trying to "sell" Obama's US Senate seat.  Of course he shouldn't be convicted til or if this goes to court.  He was speaking at the window/door business that was shut down there and I guess you might say he "taunted" the FBI saying that he's heard that he's been taped...he said he's not said anything unlawful...that he was sneakily taped...yada yada. 

Stay tuned!  But, seems like Obama didn't know him so it's not about the PE.

Shirley

Moody, I think that is the right attitude... we are supposed to pray for our leaders, according to the Bible ... and truly, I have been neglectful of that ... both for Bush and for Obama.  I have let my disgust at our situation rule my heart when it comes to our leaders.  But I am not against Obama succeeding..why would any of us?  I know we all want a good future.  None of us would be unhappy if he worked with Congress to turn it around and we all felt secure.  Heck, I'd even vote for him if things were better. 

My problem with Democrats has to do with them forcing Federal laws on the States.  I believe that States have should have the power to decide what's right for us here.  For instance, with regards to illegal immigration ... the feds say we have to pay for their schools and medical care but they are not paying for it.  They say that we states have to pay for it!!  So, why does California, Texas, Arizona, and Florida get stuck with these major bills because the rest of the US says so???  Helloooooooooo!  I think federal mandated things like that should be paid for by the feds.  They say we have to pay for them but we cannot do anything to prevent the flow of incoming illegals, like build a wall!  I would have so many more border patrols down there and a huge big honkin' wall ...

Blago thought he was safe talking to the other crooks in Illinois. They do not rat on each other. They are all in cahoots. They all know enough about each other that they do not talk, lest their own secrets get out. But they did not know they were being bugged. Kudos to the Tribune for keeping the wraps on the story until the Feds could make their move. It will be really interesting to find out who Blag was talking to, and what they had to say, which is also on tape. Jesse Jr., Valerie Jarrett, Emil Jones. All pals of Obama's, and all were in line to take his seat. Of course Obama knew what was going on. This is business as usual, pay to play politics that has ruined the state of Illinois. Obama would not be where he is, if he was not involved. One does not get anywhere in Illinois unless you play the game, by the rules. This is just the beginning of exposing the rampant criminals running Illinois. Let's see if someone finally calls Obama on the carpet too for all his insider dirty deals. He is not innocent by any means. Obama may try to hush up Fitzgerald by offering him a big job in DC. Hopefully, he will not take it and finish the investigation.

Sherri

 I agree without you regarding nationalization. But right now his economic team is very centrist and gets approvale from left and right . Tomorrow is another day of course, but so far so good.

I can definitley say I did not like Hillary's healthcare program when they tried to get it through.  I can't remember one person that I spoke to that wanted her healthcare plan.  And, besides sipping tea with leaders of other nations (isn't that what Obama alluded to as far as her foreign policy experience?) what experience has she had?  Oh, well.

I was watching CSPAN while getting ready to go to the dentist for temporary crowns.  The second panel was about to be questioned.  The first guy was talking about how Freddie and Fannie screwed up.  That's not a direct quote.  Darn, I wanted to hear what he had to say.  The whole shabamg (Congress and CEOs) need to be investigated.  I'm tried of posting videos from YouTube with proof coming out of the horses' mouths. 

AS FAR AS HEALTHCARE, pray we don't go to socialism.  My dental assistant was tell me that someone she knew in England had to wait ONE YEAR for a pace maker.  She said they probably hoped she'd die before she got one.  And, I can't remember the other story she told me....will have to find out when I go back in three weeks.  And, NOTHING'S free.  Higher taxes is the only way everyone in this country can be offered "free" healthcare.

And, about the gov of Illinois....he was planning to put himself in the Obama's senate seat if he didn't get the money he wanted. He even said he would run for prez in 2016!  OMgosh!

Shirley

I am not for socialized medicine!!!  I like my HMO ......

Stilll Obama is guilty if he knew this was going on .....  rather than say you'd be appreciate of an appointment, how 'bout saying, "You idiot, I am reporting you!"

Another gov't run health care package will cost us twice what we pay.  They get loaded down with corruption.  False claims from Dr.s, over-charging from hospitals.  We're not even sure yet if employers will be offering health care.  It's all according to what plan they come up with.

I've got a little suspicious when I was watching the hearings with the automakers.  They asked if there was a government health care would that take away the billions they need to fund the UAW, and of course they all agreed.  But they can't put private health care issuers out of business either.  That's my only hope, they have to be in the picture no matter what those knuckleheads come up with.

Any thing the Gov't comes up with, we should watch closely.  They didn't do any due diligence when giving our money to AIG, the banks are still not lending even though they got a large input of funds from us, One bank actually took our money and bought a bank in China for $6 Billion, as Donald Trump asks, how did that help America?  How did that free up lending for us?  And the gov't is about to fund the automakers probably without much over-sight either.  The first person I would fire is the CEO of Chrysler.  He'd be gone with the wind if I was lending them money.

Right now, we don't have the right people in Congress to be spending our money for us.  I do not trust them to come up with a health care plan either that won't cause us loads of pain and put us into great risk.

I bet there's a lotta fleas in Chicago..you know...sleeping with dogs.....I think they should call in the EXTERMINATOR! 

Shirley

Rosemary,

 I agree there is so many opportunities for our government to screw up with National Heathcare. Perhaps we can push it down to states. Mass. does have some plan that seems to be OK.

For example I would not mind paying $50-100 a month knowing that I would be able to get health coverage even if I lose my job. The government can just contract already existing HMO, PPO similar to how our employers do it. They would bet that most of the time people paying into this fund will not actually use it since they would have their employer's insurance.

You see the problem is that our healthcare costs are so high, that one cannot even contemplate paying for their healthcare out of their pocket. I know that actually government program  Medicare caused all their huge jump but here we are today and we do need to fix it.

I'm going to miss Laura Bush.  She's one classy lady.  And I mean LADY. Do you remember her visit to the Middle East last year when she went to talk to women about breast cancer.  You KNOW how these things are shunned over there.  Anyway, I reread this transcript (I had seen the interview with Greta) and almost started crying.  I could have highlighted almost the entire transcript.

WHAT A FIRST LADY!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,435261,00.html

First Lady Laura Bush 'On the Record' on Breast Cancer Awareness and Sarah Palin Thursday, October 09, 2008      GretaWire
First lady Laura Bush went "On the Record" with Greta on breast cancer awareness, Gov. Palin and life after the White House.First lady Laura Bush went "On the Record" with Greta on breast cancer awareness, Gov. Palin and life after the White House.This is a rush transcript from "On the Record ," October 8, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Now you go to the White House with first lady Laura Bush went "On the Record," or maybe we should call it the "Pink House."Last night, to make us listen about something very important in honor of breast cancer awareness, the White House was lit up in a brilliant pink.And earlier today the first lady talked to us about breast cancer awareness, Governor Palin, and much, much more.(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)VAN SUSTEREN: Mrs. Bush, nice to see you.LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Thank you, Greta.VAN SUSTEREN: And I can't help but notice you're wearing pink.BUSH: I'm wearing pink, that's right, for breast cancer awareness month, October, which is a good time for everyone, all women, to get their mother and their sister and make their appointments for a mammogram and really pay attention to it.Because we know that the best thing we have for a cure is early detection. So it's really important for women to take charge of their health and make sure they have the screenings that are necessary.VAN SUSTEREN: You've amped up the notice. Last year, of course, we went to the Middle East, but I can't help but mention how spectacular the White House looked--the "pink house," I should say.BUSH: That's right. Didn't it look so pretty?I got an e-mail this morning. Last night we lit the White House pink for breast cancer awareness.There was a symposium across the street at Blair House that included women from around the world, spouses of ambassadors and women ambassadors from around the world to talk about the way women can reach out to each other everywhere, like we did in Saudi Arabia and Jordan and UAE. You went with me on that trip last year.But I got an email early this morning from one of the White House operators, who couldn't come out while we were turning the lights, the pink lights, on the White House because she was working answering the phone at the White House. But she said she finally got a break about 10:40. And so she asked the policeman that was there, she said, "Is the White House still pink?" And she had a chance to run over and stand in front of it.And she said-and this sort of makes me want to weep-that when she stood there--she's a breast cancer survivor and her sister is suffering from breast cancer right now-that it made her want to weep standing there.And she was so thrilled to see the White House pink for breast cancer awareness, for all the women, you know, both who have breast cancer now and are struggling with it or the many good friends and family members that we've lost to breast cancer.Watch Greta's interview with first lady Laura BushVAN SUSTEREN: There's something like hugely symbolic in something so beautiful when you see the White House lit up like that.And it does send a message so far. It's like when you see the pictures of the White House when it's snowing--to see it with the pink was certainly sends a message.BUSH: I hope so. The State Department has a partnership with the Middle East to get people in the Middle East to start talking about breast cancer, to try to educate women about breast cancer, because there are many parts of the world where breast cancer still is shameful and carries a stigma.And, of course, women are always fearful of breast cancer, and that's true everywhere in every part of the world. The idea of losing a breast in a mastectomy is very, very difficult for women to contemplate, for sure.And so the State Department has reached out with a partnership to the Middle East, and then last summer I announced a partnership between Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the United States on breast cancer.And it's really a way for us and the United States to be able to use our research expertise and our education expertise, the Susan G. Cullman, the "Avon Crusade for the Cure" or many other breast cancer organizations here in the United States have developed, ways to let women know what they can do to protect themselves.VAN SUSTEREN: It's so interesting, on your five-day journey last year that we took to the Middle East, even--I mean, how different culturally.I'll never forget walking and seeing the woman who was standing next to the X-ray machine that did the mammogram, and all you could see were her eyes. And it was so symbolic how we're much more open about it. And how much, you know, a partnership can really help a little bit.BUSH: I think it really can. And we know because we have the results of the number of women in Saudi Arabia who have shown up at the cancer screening center in Riyadh, the one we visited.Before we went there, very few women, about maybe six a day on average showed up for a mammogram, and now that's up to 25 or more a day women are coming in for mammograms.So it really did get the word out to women. Our visit there and our ability to be able to talk about something that they would be shy about talking about in public.And, of course, the great advocates there, like Dr. Samia (ph). I don't know if you remember her from Saudi, but she's a breast cancer survivor herself and a physician, and she was here last night when we lit the White House. But because women like her will speak out, more women in Saudi Arabia and in other countries where women would be afraid to talk about breast cancer now are see seeking screenings.VAN SUSTEREN: In that country, women can't drive to get a mammogram, must have permission from husband to get a mammogram. If something shows up that is curious that must be examined, they have to get permission from the husband to get a biopsy.It just goes on and on and on.BUSH: That's right, but I also think that's part of our advocacy there. Because we were there and because we talked about it, that it just gave it an attention that it wouldn't have had otherwise, and made men and women more aware of it.And men don't want to lose their wives to cancer, or their mothers or their sisters. And so I think our advocacy was very, very helpful there.And now the Saudi women who are speaking out, or the women in Jordan, or the women in Jordan or the women in the UAE who are speaking out.If you'll remember in the UAE we went to a chamber of commerce event, where the business council was starting a breast cancer awareness campaign.And that brings, of course, the voices of many men--although there are many businesswomen in the UAE as well--but brings that whole voice to the breast cancer cause, and I think that's important. It's an added emphasis on breast cancer awareness.VAN SUSTEREN: I don't know which country I was in, and your memory is probably a lot better than mine, but I also remember what he thought was intriguing--I think it was M.D. Anderson, which is of course the hospital in your home state of Texas, where they were actually watching and participating by satellite in the surgeries.And so the exchange of medical technology and experience was phenomenal.BUSH: And that is one thing we have to offer in the United States that we can reach out to developing countries with, and that is our medical technology.And the Anderson Cancer Center is a partner with the State Department and the Susan G. Cullman foundation and these Middle East countries.And so that brings the whole authority of the medical community and the researchers, the cancer researchers, to this equation as well.(END VIDEOTAPE)VAN SUSTEREN: Next, the first lady goes "On the Record" about Governor Sarah Palin. You might be surprised what the first lady thinks. She will give you her thoughts there. They are straight there. There will be no doubt in your mind what the first lady thinks when you watch this.(COMMERCIAL BREAK)VAN SUSTEREN: We continue with first lady Laura Bush.The first lady went "On the Record" about Governor Palin, life after the White House, and breast cancer awareness.(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)VAN SUSTEREN: Is there a reason why you chose this particular time? I know you do a lot of events and a lot of events and you advocate for a lot of good causes, but why this one? You've been almost tireless in trying to raise awareness.BUSH: Well, my mother and grandmother both had breast cancer. It's a family issue for me. It's something I know I'll always have to watch and make sure I have regular screenings because breast cancer is in my family.So that's a personal reason. But also because I think it's a way for women to reach out to each other. And one of the things that made it so moving, really, for me in Saudi Arabia and Jordan and UAE was this opportunity that I had to have sort of intimate conversations with women that if we'd been talking about any other subject, we might not have been able to reach each other like we could talking about cancer and breast cancer specifically.Also, as you know, Nancy Brinker has been one of my friends for years. And the Cullman Foundation was located in Dallas, still is in Dallas, headquartered there. And it's just an issue that I've worked on for a really long time.VAN SUSTEREN: It is interesting, though, how, when we have sort of engaged in rather--we have diplomatic issues with different countries around the world, is that when we can reach out and share a medical technology or experience, it does sort of help the dialogue between the countries.BUSH: Exactly. It is almost a sort of diplomacy. And who would have thought it? But it really is. It's a way for American women to reach out to their sisters around the world.It's something that everyone fears--disease and cancer, and certainly women, especially, fear breast cancer. And so it's a way for us to support each other and to reach out to each other.VAN SUSTEREN: I don't mean to jump ahead, but you'll be moving in a couple of months. Have you sort of thought how you'd take this campaign, this breast cancer awareness, or is that not on your radar screen as to how you're going to continue?BUSH: I'll continue work with it. It's something I've worked on for years. It used to be the invitations chairman for the Susan Cullman Foundation lunch-in in Dallas, which was a very easy job because it was always a sold out luncheon before we even mailed the invitation. So it was just a fun way to get together with friends and address invitations. So I'll continue to work with Cullman because it will be there in Dallas. We're going to move. We're going move to Dallas.And then I hope I'll have the opportunity to continue with the diplomatic outreach to these countries in the Middle East partnership and in the partnership in the Americas. I've made a lot of friends and each one of these countries who are working on breast cancer and breast cancer awareness. And those friendships will continue.VAN SUSTEREN: Let me talk about another woman's issue, sort of.It's possible we're going to have a woman vice president, Governor Palin. What do you think about that?BUSH: I'm just crazy about Sarah Palin. I'm very--I like her very, very much. I loved watching her in the debate last week. I really like how she is.She's a really tough western woman. She's a woman like a lot of people I know who are from Texas. I think there are a lot of similarities.And I'm excited about it. I'm really thrilled to have the opportunity to vote for a Republican woman for vice president.VAN SUSTEREN: You emphasize Republican. I guess many people are surprised that the Republican ticket--of course, the Democratic ticket in 1984 had a woman on the ticket. But it's been a long time.BUSH: That's right, exactly, only the second time in American history. And I think it's terrific.VAN SUSTEREN: Think she's getting a fair treatment? Is she getting--BUSH: No. Not really.VAN SUSTEREN: I guess you had to think about that one for awhile.BUSH: I think she can take it though. For sure, there's no doubt about it.But, you know, I guess they say all is fair in love and war, and I guess politics is part of that. And, certainly, I know that that's what happens in politics, is the other side does the, you know, the most they can to diminish their opponent, and we certainly have seen people try to do that to Sarah Palin.VAN SUSTEREN: It's interesting that one of the things I'm careful about when I interview women is that we talk about issues because things have changed in the world for women. And there's a lot of talk about how she's dressed and how she looks.When I sat down I couldn't help but notice that you're wearing pink for breast cancer, and I sort of reluctantly asked, but it was symbolically important.BUSH: That's right. And I am wearing pink today for breast cancer awareness.But I guess we can't help--and really, the fact is, we talk about the way the men candidates look as well. There's no doubt about it. But I like the way Sarah Palin looks.VAN SUSTEREN: Is she getting treated unfairly in your mind because she's a woman, because she's a Republican, or both?BUSH: All. Both.VAN SUSTEREN: So she's got a double.BUSH: Both in all of those, absolutely.VAN SUSTEREN: Any advice for Governor Palin?BUSH: I wouldn't give her any advice. But I did talk to her. I went to see her when she first got to Minneapolis for the convention. Cindy McCain and I went over there and visited. And, you know, my advice is just be strong. This is what happens in politics, and you're really in the big leagues when you're on the ticket, on the presidential ticket. And, you know, expect anything.But there's a lot of good also, and I know she knows that. I know she sees people around this country who are saying they're praying for her and they're for her and they're thinking about her. And I certainly want her to know that I am, too.VAN SUSTEREN: How about the "First Dude," her husband, Todd. What do you think about him?BUSH: I like him a lot, too. We had just seen them when we stopped in Alaska to see our troops on the way to Asia for the Olympics. And so we had just seen them, been with them a couple of weeks before with Sarah and her husband.VAN SUSTEREN: Never dull.BUSH: Never dull, absolutely.VAN SUSTEREN: Mrs. Bush, thank you very much. I hope we get to sit down and talk again in the White House before mid-January.BUSH: Great, thanks. I appreciate it.(END VIDEOTAPE)