Presidential debates on ABC right now-both parties
Comments
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Amy--her name is Susan Collins, and if either of these women, Collins or Snowe, were to run as McCain's Veep and he won, it would improve the numbers for the Democrats, as both Collins and Snowe are Republican senators, However, I'm not sure if the improvement would be beneficial to those who think policy rather than Party, as both women frequently vote with the Democrats, particularly on social issues, often more than some Democratic senators.
I don't dislike you, Amy, although I am puzzled by your bent to disagree with everything I write even when I defend your candidate against calumny. So, if you'll stop disagreeing with me on principle, even when we both know you don't disagree, I'll stop trying to trick you up, which admittedly I did this time. I believe we're both interested in seeing the Republicans out of office in 2008, not because we dislike Republicans but because we both think they frequently support policies that we both feel are harmful to our planet and to mankind in general, and to Americans in particular. Can't we allow that each of us has good intentions in supporting our respective candidates and not throw mud at them (or each other) in presenting our views. I can do this if you can.
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I keep confusing Collins with washington because of Olympia in the state of Washington and Olympia snow-- LOL--once I get a name in my head it's there for a while.
Maybe if you ask everyone who disagrees with you to stop disagreeing with you on principle-- if they do that, then you'll have the whole world agreeing with you. Please do not ever put words or thoughts into my mouth or head. You do not know how I feel on every issue and to assume otherwise is curious. At this point, even though I do not like McCain I respect him as a person and I do not respect Hillary because of how she's run her campaign. I do not trust her and I believe a Hillary Clinton presidency would be as soap opera like as a Bill Clinton one. I do not want that for my country and I think that would be horrible for the democratic party for years to come. I will not vote for McCain, but I might for Nader if the unexpected happens and she is the nominee. Those our my principles and even asking politely won't change them.
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You win; I retire.
Anneshirley
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I'm back from that wild and crazy County convention. We had to be there at 9, so we got there a little early. I left at 6P.M. with still more voting to go for at-large delegates. It was the longest day of my life.
What should have been a shoe-in for Obama in my precinct, turned out to be us sending a Clinton delegate to the State convention instead, and the Obama delegate then became the alternate.
The Obama delegates, he had 8, but only 5 showed up and 1 alternate. All of our delegates showed up (5) with 3 alternates. They were 2 shy for the voting, so Clinton's alternates became delegates, and voted for our Clinton delegate. They kept telling us how important it was to go, even if we were alternates, and sure enough, they were right. Needless to say, we were dancing over that outcome.
A lot of that went on during the day. Whole precinct credentials were missing, and most of it was about having the endurance to sit there and wait it out till the next vote.
We decided on a young lady with her Ph.d to be our delegate. I kind of wanted a younger person to be our delegate, it proves the point that not all us mature women are the only people voting for Hillary. Actually, I was the oldest person there from our delegation.
Now on to State in June.
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Rosemary, that must have been fascinating. Boring at times probably too, as you were sitting around waiting for the next vote, but it's so great that you were able to participate in the process. Very interesting how it turned out.....
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Bessie,
I kept myself busy. I wanted to find out why certain precincts weren't getting seated as delegates for Clinton. I was all over the place. It took hours for them to work out some of those problems, but everyone was happy in the end.
I'm going to the State convention in case the Obama alternate doesn't show. She was pretty upset with how it all worked out. She was sure to be the delegate, but her people didn't show. She was thinking we Clinton delegates should vote for her anyway, cause she worked so hard. She didn't understand the process. It wasn't about her, it's about a delegate going on to vote for Hillary. She got past it eventually.
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Hi Grace,
I just read your passionate posting about "whites" and all other races such as Asians for example. It sounds really funny here in Sillicon Valley. My daugther goes to a very good private school: where whites are about 20% and the rest are Asians and Inidians. In fact my daughter has been complaining for some time of being too pale and trying to get a tan whenever she can
I think it will be quite a shock for her to go to a college where she will be in a majority. I know it is a bit hard to be different. She is taking all of the advanced classes so when we come for parents meetings we are the only whites in that class. As we come in a teacher knows exactly who is our child, no mistake there.
So what should I conclude here : whites are being discriminatined against. Aisan and Indians got all the money and poor whies can't afford to send their kids to expensive schools. And should I also conclude that the school is discriminating against white kids not allowing them to take AP classes ?
Or should I just look at the reality and say the reason that Aisan and Inidan kids are the majority is because their parents put good education is as their #1 priority and willing to sacrifice for it. And they "push" their kids to excel and challenge themselves , i.e. taking honor and AP classes.
And btw a lot of Indians have rather dark skin which does not prevent them from being highly successful so it must not be the skin color after all. We cannot have a leveled playing field for everyone, it's just not possible. I come from the ex Soviet Union where it was supposed to be the case but definitely wasn't . Hence one is responsilbe for oneself and looking forward and being driven are the keys to success. This could be seen in examples of immigrants coming here and building a good life for themselves out of nothing.
MY coworker came from China after cultural revolution. Her parents were sent to labor camp when she was 11, her mother who was a professor died in the camp. My coworker was not allowed to go to school and had to do manual labor. BUT at night she was sitting with the textbooks learning the subjects. So when they allowed her to go to school years later she was able to do it. And then she came here to her uncle and went to college. When she told me her story , I was so touched. I could not imagine what it would be like for a girl who was growing up in a loving home with educated parents to lose it all overnight. And yet here she is years later: one of the nicest and cheerful people I have ever met.
The furure is the answer here not dweliing in the past,.
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For those who disagree with Obama's assertion that he wants to talk to foreign leaders, even those with whom the USA disagrees. Note that these secretaries of state are both republican and democrat and some of the most widely respected foreign policy people in the country.
Ex-secretaries of state urge closure of Guantanamo, talks with Iran
The Associated Press Published: March 27, 2008 
ATHENS, Georgia: Five former U.S. secretaries of state on Thursday urged the next presidential administration to close down the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and open a dialogue with Iran.
The former chief U.S. diplomats agreed at a conference aimed at giving the next president some bipartisan foreign policy advice that shutting down the prison camp in Cuba would bolster America's image abroad.
"It says to the world: 'We are now going back to our traditional respective forms of dealing with people who potentially committed crimes," said Colin Powell, who served as Republican President George W. Bush's first secretary of state.
Powell was joined by Henry Kissinger, James Baker III, Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright at a round-table discussion sponsored by the University of Georgia.
Kissinger, who served in the cabinets of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, called the base a "blot on us" that should be closed, but wondered aloud about the consequences of a closure.
Today in Americas
Tracking a U.S. marine lost at home U.S. housing secretary plans to resign, report says McCain faces test in wooing elite donors Baker, a lawyer who served in George H.W. Bush's cabinet, said he has struggled with its legal implications.
"It gives us a very, very bad name, not just internationally," he said. "I have a great deal of difficulty understanding how we can hold someone, pick someone up, particularly someone who might be an American citizen - even if they were caught somewhere abroad, acting against American interests - and hold them without ever giving them an opportunity to appear before a magistrate."
They also urged that the United States open talks with Iran, saying it is important to maintain contact with both adversaries and allies.
Albright stressed the importance of finding "common ground" and Christopher urged diplomats to explore opening contact other "vectors of power," such as clerics and former political leaders. Albright and Christopher served under former President Bill Clinton.
Baker suggested the dialogue could center on a common dilemma, saying a "dysfunctional Iraq, a chaotic Iraq, is not something that's in the interest to Iran. There's every incentive on their part to help us, the same way they did in Afghanistan."
Powell compared the potential talks to difficult visits he made to Syria while he served as America's chief diplomat.
"They are not always pleasant visits," he said. "But you've got to do it."
Kissinger, who laid the groundwork for Nixon's historic 1972 visit to China that opened relations between the counties, had sharp words when the topic veered to America's perception of China.
"We should not look at China as a military adversary," said Kissinger.. "We should see where we could cooperate."
Powell said the biggest threat to a peaceful relationship with China would be Taiwan declaring its independence.
"And, frankly we can keep that from happening," said Powell.
Some of the strongest words were reserved for the trade embargo against Cuba.
"The 50-year-old embargo has not worked, not worked to our benefit or their benefit. This is one of those issues that is driven more by politics than foreign policy," said Christopher.
"When policies don't work for 50 years," he said, "It's time to start thinking about something else."
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I don't know how the dems feel about closing Guantanamo Bay but I did hear McCain saying he would close it. An important issue for me is to start trading with Cuba and having normal relations with them.
As to Mexico, I'd love to help them clean up their water supply, but then again when I read that we have salmonella is some of our own water supply, we need to help ourselves first and then be gracious to other countries.
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Both Obama and Clinton want to close Gitmo too- thank goodness. I've been for closing it since day 1. What did you think about the former secretaries of state who think the next US president needs to engage in dialogues with the president of Iran and with Cuba? I strongly agree with this.
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Absolutely. Iran is posing a whole different problem though. How do you open a dialogue with people who don't believe in human rights for all their citizens? That has always been a major issue for us. The nuclear weapons issue, though Iran says its for peaceful use, that will be another problem. For Bush it's a wall, but for our next President, maybe there will be a workable solution.
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Amy,
The former secretaries of state don't seem to be saying that "the next US president needs to engage in dialogues with the president of Iran and with Cuba".
What the former secretaries of state seem to be suggesting is that the U.S. open a dialogue with these nations, and with that, I couldn't agree more. But at least in the article you posted, they don't appear to be saying that the U.S. President should jump right in, pick up the phone or fly over and meet with Ahmadinejad. They are suggesting preliminary meetings by underlings:
"Christopher urged diplomats to explore opening contact... "
"Powell compared the potential talks to difficult visits he made to Syria while he served as America's chief diplomat."
So as I read it, what these former secretaries of state are proposing is actually Hillary Clinton's position. She has said that her government will initiate diplomatic discussions with these countries, however prior to a meeting with the U.S. president, other diplomats would meet first with the leaders in these nations to start the discussions, and preconditions would be set prior to any meeting with the president. Barack Obama has strongly disagreed that any prior diplomatic meetings or preconditions are necessary. His position is that he personally will meet with the leader of these nations and the leaders of terrorist organizations (Hezbollah and Hamas), without prior diplomatic meetings and without any pre-conditions. That's not what the former secretaries of state seem to be suggesting. I support what the secretaries of state are saying and I support Hillary Clinton's position, but I strongly disagree with Barack Obama's position. To me, his position provides yet another example of his inexperience in foreign relations.
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Back to health care:
March 31, 2008
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than half of U.S. doctors now favor switching to a national health care plan and fewer than a third oppose the idea, according to a survey published on Monday.
The survey suggests that opinions have changed substantially since the last survey in 2002 and as the country debates serious changes to the health care system.
Of more than 2,000 doctors surveyed, 59 percent said they support legislation to establish a national health insurance program, while 32 percent said they opposed it, researchers reported in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
The 2002 survey found that 49 percent of physicians supported national health insurance and 40 percent opposed it.
"Many claim to speak for physicians and represent their views. We asked doctors directly and found that, contrary to conventional wisdom, most doctors support national health insurance," said Dr. Aaron Carroll of the Indiana University School of Medicine, who led the study.
"As doctors, we find that our patients suffer because of increasing deductibles, co-payments, and restrictions on patient care," said Dr. Ronald Ackermann, who worked on the study with Carroll. "More and more, physicians are turning to national health insurance as a solution to this problem."
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I read it differently Beesie-- that the secretaries suggest the next president needs to do a lot to repair our relationships with the world and specifically things like ending the embargo with cuba and having dialogies with leaders that we usually thumb our noses with. Hillary seemed to thumb her nose at this, part of the old school of thought that just isn't working. Talking to the president isn't the big reward some think it is, or that it used to be before we ruined our relationship with the world. Obama suggested thinking outside of the traditional box-- not that he's go in there (metaphorically) unarmed and naive, "golly gee,lets see what we can do."
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Amy,
You may read it differently, but I'm simply reading the words that they said. You are choosing to interpret those words so that they map to your own bias towards Obama.
For you to say that Clinton is "thumbing her nose" at having dialogues with leaders of other nations shows that you simply don't understand Clinton's position, or perhaps here again you are choosing to interpret it in such a way that fits your bias. Just like Obama, Clinton has clearly stated the importance of reopening a dialogue with leaders of these nations; unlike Obama, Clinton has said that she believes that the initial discussions should be held by underlings (diplomats, the Secretary of State), who can lay the groundwork for a meeting with the president. To suggest the Clinton wants to continue with the approach of the Bush presidency is absurd and totally contrary to what she has been saying.
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Anyone watch the news last night with the clip about the secret diversional program for doctors with alcohol and drug addictions? The docs get to "secretly" sign up for this program with random drug testing, and get this, are still able to treat patients and do surgery on them. A plastic surgeon was featured as well as 6 women he did reconstruction on for bc. Unbelievable. Evidently, this program is going on in 18 states, one of which is California. So, Brian West is still practicing in Beverly Hills, even though he has had numerous law suits, dropped out of the program midway through, and none of the suits was ever tied to his drinking problem--the argument being that if people knew, the docs wouldn't enter the program and would continue drugs/alcohol in secret and do more damage to other people.
Well, it was heartbreaking to see these bc survivors ruined surgeries. 2 have died because he left one with an open wound across her belly and she had to stop her cancer treatment--it never healed, and she became weaker, and a year later died because of delayed cancer treatment. The other woman was shown with all of her intestines and organs in a sac in front of where her belly button should have been. The sac was the size of a volleyball. She had to stop her cancer treatment, and died two years later. She sued Brian West and he settled out of court for $255K. Another woman went back to him after he did surgery because of complications. This woman said in order to fix it, he cut her again across her abdomen and told her she would heal better this way--I got the impression he left the cut open--no sutures, no super glue! No nothing.
For dropping out of the program he got a small fine and was put on probation five years, and could not practice medicine for one year. Now back in business and back in the program.
The random drug testing didn't work for him, because the lab that was supposed to do it didn't follow the court's computer set test dates, and did it on days when BW knew there was one. His office manager also falsified his treatment records, and signed his name to date/time documents as to being in the office when he wasn't.
In California, 8,000 physicians are in this program...and we aren't allowed to know who they are.
Something is wrong with the entire healthcare system, and this is another "flaw" in coverage and protection for the patients. Hillary and/or Obama have a huge problem on their hands. Not only do we need better health coverage for our citizens, we need some protection in their so insurance companies aren't paying for such botched jobs that people lose their lives over their reconstruction from bc. Haven't women been through enough with a bc diagnosis and tx? Just makes me sick.
What do you think the system should do about docs like this? Will reforming this program be any part of anyone's universal health care proposal? How much can we ask from the federal government? -
I can only tell you from my friend who owned a cocktail bar/restaurant across from a hospital, that every afternoon at about 2PM, some Drs. would come in and drink their lunch. They all ordered a green peppermint drink with vodka so their patients would not know they were drinking. Hang out there for awhile and go on to do their rounds or whatever. This has been an on-going problem for quite sometime.
They should all get their licenses jerked until they successfully complete a program and take blood and urine tests on an on-going basis before they can get it back. But, no one would do it. It made me feel good to write that though.
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Beesie- did obama said ever say that he wouldn't have anyone do the ground work? No. Hillary Clinton said he did-- but that was just her spin on things.
Grace, it's such a slippery slope when dealing with substance abuse in the medical profession-- and I hear the rates are pretty high. I wouldn't go to a dr with a substance abuse problem- or a mental health problem- I think they have a right to practice if they are capable of doing so and monitored-- but I don't want them as my practitioner.
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Yep, Rosemary I feel the same way. I think any doc doing any kind of surgery should have to do random drug testing. After all, we require it of airline pilots, and I'm sure others can think of certain professions that require it. I mean this is a person's life that they have in their hands. Granted there are mistakes in all professions, but mutilate 6 women and still be in practice. The pictures were awful.
Amy--how would you know if the doc had a substance abuse or alcohol problem? it's kept secret. Even the husband of one woman didn't believe her when she said she smelled alcohol on the doc's breath! So unless you can smell it or know the eye signs, you might be in trouble.
It seems that the Medical Corporations, like clinics and foundations, where docs practice, as well as hospitals that grant them services, should be putting some safeguards in place. After all, they could get sued also.
They may have a right to practice, but I'm the patient and should be able to know what their background is. An ob-gyn years ago, killed one mother and baby, and almost killed a few more before the clinic got rid of him. Didn't even prosecute even though he had a cocaine addiction and worked with 2 other docs. I'm sure he went to another state and started another practice! Sad. -
Amy,
Can you give me a place to go look so I can see for myself what Obama does or does not say. Please don't say go to Obama.com, if you have a citing where he discusses this issue, I would love to read his position. Thanks.
Is the PA press making any mention of Obama's remarks about his daughters' not being burdened with a baby? I hope this isn't going to be making an issue of choice coming back to re-visit us again.
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Grace-- I'd have no way of knowing-- I was speaking hypothetically or if I did know. Or of course-- if I smelled liquor on her breath
.Rosemary- I have spend so many hours listening to Obama speak, be interviewed and reading what he says-- his positions are on the topics are are on his website and the nuances and misconceptions that Hillary spins are often answered in interviews rather than in articles. I probably hear him at least an hour a day and listen to shows and pundits 3 hrs a day.
His comment about not wanting his daughter when she's 16 to be burdened with an unwanted pregnancy so far has not been spun to mean something that it does not. I think there's a universal feeling that 99% of adults and parents hope that their children aren't pregnant at 16. In that speech he also talked about morality and making decisions and wanting them to know about birth control in the event that they made a mistake.
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Amy, yes Obama did say it. Absolutely. During a debate, as a counterpoint to Clinton's proposal. I was actually surprised that he was so clear in saying it. So it is his words that I am referring to, not someone else's (Clinton or otherwise) interpretation of his words.
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What Obama said was he didn't want one of his daughters to be "punished," not burdened, if that makes any difference to you.
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Shirley,
Right you are: "Look, I got two daughters - 9 years old and 6 years old," Obama said. "I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. I don't want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn't make sense to not give them information."
Well see if his statement will make a difference in PA.
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Punished- burdened-- no difference to me-- although I do not see STDS or babies as punishment and personally prefer burdened. If that were the case then we could blame people with AIDS and other STDS for their illnesses and I never want to go back to that era. Gays were blamed for years for AIDS, more so than IV drug users who also spread the illness. We could then go on to blame women with breast cancer if they failed to follow dietary recommendations, were childless because that raises the risk, and used the pill for too long. Nobody deserves a disease or unwanted pregnancy, even if they fail to use protection. We also know that condoms don't protect 100% against either, but that's the best out there and abstinence is the only way to guarantee 100%. I don't think most teens are emotionally mature enough to have sex and I do think that many engage in sex before they're ready and for the wrong reasons. I certainly don't want to see more abortions, that's a trauma for someone to have to go through. I'd rather see a pregnancy prevented through birth control and/or abstinence.
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PA, has almost 4 million catholic voters. That wasn't the right place to bring this up and right before a primary. I wonder what Casey is thinking now of his endorsement considering how his father felt about pro life?
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Catholics believe in birth control these days Rosemary-- but hey-- maybe you can call the clinton campaign and give her some talking points to use against obama....
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Amy,
I don't think she needs any suggestions from me, Obama does this to himself, we just have to wait for more of his off-the-cuff remarks.
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Oh please-- I could sit here and write out the many gaffes that Hillary makes or that McCain makes-- but I'm trying to rise about the pettiness of the Clinton campaign.
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"I'm trying to rise about the pettiness of the Clinton campaign."
Amy, Good, when are you going to start?
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