McCain on Health Care and Mandates
The Republican line is not going to make it this time around. You know the drill. Government can't help you, but you need help---so help yourself---you whiner. The health care situation in America is awful and people in all states are being having trouble keeping up their coverage if they have any at all. McCain's line is beyond stupid.
McCain: I do not believe in mandates. I believe that every American should have affordable and available health care and I'd like to talk just an additional minute about that. But I'm not going to mandate that they do. I want every American to have affordable and available education. But I'm not going to mandate that they do.
Calling the Democratic Party's fervor to make health care available to everyone "socialized medicine" will not play and the more McCain tries to paint it that way the better off we'll be.
Ex-Lax and Depends for Everyone!!
I do not believe I should be mandated to fund the the mass genocide that America is currently commiting at the expense of health care and education and great loss of life and sanity.
So does that mean I can stop paying my taxes?
McTorture doesn't believe in mandates because his addled brain couldn't come up with a real plan if it had to! Besides, McCrazy knows that Bush has raided our treasury and there'll be nothing left for the next president.
If its not socialist medicine, then, pray tell me, what is it?
Dear Senator McDense, My wife and I moved back to Thailand because she couldn't get insured in America even for $350 per month. She was sited with a non-existent pre-existing condition, which was a blunder on a doctors part, but non the less stained her health care record enough to make her unacceptable. Thanks for your deep understanding of this subject.
BB
Eve @ 2:
Eve: Since the taxpayers haven't been truly represented in 7 years, I'd say that the Boston Tea Party Redux is long overdue, don't you?
Telling people what you aren't going to do to solve the health care crisis is not a winning campaign strategy. Given the choice between "socialized medicine" and none at all, most people will opt for the former, especially where their children are concerned.
Sorry, john. I love ya, but i do not want health insurance mandated either. For one thing, it is reckoned that HALF of all health care dollars spent in the U.S. go for alternative care and products. Do you think THOSE will be covered? Not on your nelly. I have been to a doctor once in seventeen years, and if I can help it, I never will again. I am fifty-seven, and I do. not. want. their. medical.care!
mags @ 4:
mags @ 4:
Praying for a faith healing.
Mags@4: Let me guess: You're probably a staunch "pro-lifer", too? They're the worst hypocrites as they have more concerned for a cluster of cells than for the elderly who have to choose daily between food and medicine - the lack of either means early death.
Tell me you're a pro-lifer so I can regurgitate in the nearest receptacle.
veritas @ 9:
the lowest common denominator in the US all buy the same brand of stupidity
in fact, it's a cult of stupidity.....
those living in the deluded parallel backwards universe all know the language....but here in reality land the language doesn't translate.
i hope i am not the only one that knows he's living in a twilight zone.
Ummm, Education IS mandated between 5 and 16, isn't it? You have to send the kiddies to some form of school during those years, last I heard ...
Bangkok Bob @ 5:
BB: From what I gather, sensitivity toward alternative modalities would be considered if the patient requests it. I would imagine that anyone who doesn't want the free health care could opt out by signing appropriate disclaimers - just like the "conscientious objector" status in the military we once had. I doubt they will pay for some of the obvious quackery out there though if that's what you're talking about.
we should all start calling Johnny........... "Bought-and-paid-for" McCain
Wendy, I agree with you. I don't want anyone mandating that I use a government run health care program, either. I lived in England many years, and their "socialist" medical system, the NHS, is a mess. My husband waited a year for a hip transplant operation, and finally gave up when it was postponed yet again. We ended up returning to the USA to have it done, promptly and withha private surgeon we chose on our own schedule, not that of the NHS. My husband was in pain for an entire year unnecessarily waiting for a spot to get his surgery at a 'free" NHS hospital. Its free because you don't pay, but if you're in severe pain, its hell. Now we're in the USA and lucky we have full medical coverage. But we also have the very best health care in the world here. British doctors on the NHS are so busy, they might give you 5 minutes of their time, if you're lucky. And so many conditions are not covered, even very serious ones, treatments that are routinely given here for certain cancers, for instance, are denied there. Many people who can't afford insurance in the USA have a program called Medicare. Remember that? Why don't they use it? Because why pay when you can get exactly the same doctors and put in the same hospital bed as paying patients if you just go to the emergency room instead when you are ill? i don't want anyone mandating which doctor i see and what kind of care, treatment ormedicines I can and can't receive, and this is what you will get in a socialized medicine program. Socialized simply means "state run", so I'm not quite sure why everyone always gets in a hussy fit when the word "socialized" is used, as if its the former soviet union or something. Its government run, and ultimately, the free market can do it better. So let's find a way to fix the system we've got and not start from the beginning.
wendy davis @ 8:
I'd say that you're one very fortunate individual - what are the odds of that?
Mike @ 13:
I assumed he meant higher education, but even that doesn't make sense -- when's the last time anyone called for mandatory college courses?
wendy davis @ 8:
I believe it will be something akin to Medicaid or Medicare. You may be entitled but certainly, if you don't want it, no one can force you to have it. Just like these other programs, you'll pay taxes for it just the same.
Hey, McTorture is right, we shouldn't have public schools either. If we do, the communists/terrorists/threat de jour wins! So if you know any kids in public schools, be sure to call those little bastards "commies". And what could possibly be wrong with our private health care system? Pay hundreds(or more)a month, and MAYBE, the insurance company will be in a good mood and decide to cover whatever procedure you are having.
Everyone carping on mandated health care here and NOT a Republican, please raise your hand. I rest my case.
I'm wondering how healthcare which is an abysmal failure right now in this country could get any worse than it is right now? As for those Republicans who don't want healthcare but will pay for it nonetheless, that works too. If there are enough of you, then we who desire it won't have to pay as much since you'll be helping us to do so.
veritas @ 16:
sadly, that 17 year old girl in California wasn't so lucky. she needed a doctor but the HMO bean counter wouldn't let her have one because it cost them too much money. Love that private healthcare for 'everyone'.
wily1, I was hospitalized in june of last year for 12 days due to complications from major surgery and a pulmonary embolism. my hospital bill was-gasp-$109,000. Every penny of it was paid by my insurance company.I am incredibly lucky, as I've always had good health insurance. And I am not arguing that many don't have insurance now and desperately need it. but there are already government run insurance programs out there if people want to opt for them. however, you won't ever get the quality of care you will with a private run system. Hands down My experience in England was that many of the most advanced treatments available in the usa were not covered or were denied by the NHS. Just because its "socialist" or state run doesn't mean they will give you what you want!! Trust me, they won't. you go live in England for a while and see what "free" health care is really like. I lived there 11 years, and it SUCKS.
Police, Fire, Public Works...all 'socialized'. You can purchase better 'service/care' if you so choose...but at least the basics are provided...without profit. Do the same with healthcare and buy 'extra' protection if you so desire.
WTF is so hard to understand?
The only mandate Mcinsain is for is the kind that Jeff Gannon gave to Bush!
We're going to have bank crashes and a Depression (but they won't call it that, 'cause it'll be different), and people are worried about socializing healthcare? Think we had a Welfare State in the ’70s? You ain't seen nothing yet. We are fixin' to pay the economic price for the Bush Presidency.
Healthcare quickly falls to a distant 4th when you don't have adequate food and/or clothing and/or shelter (look at any 3rd World country).
I'm beginning to think that the next President is walking into a set-up. I don't know if Obama can handle it, and I suspect Clinton will handle it the same as a Republican would (like an insider).
Sure wish Kucinich and Edwards hadn't pulled out so soon.
McCain has had cradle to the present government health care. He was a service brat (father was a freakin flag officer), made the military a career and is now a senator.
He doesn't know squat.
The question is - will someone - pundit or candidate - have the courage to point that out. Of course not, McCain's got the flag wrapped so tight around him it's cutting off the blood to his brain.
mags @ 4:
It is socialized medicine when the state is providing the medical services and subsidizing the cost with taxes. That is not what people are talking about here, is it? Hitherto, the government has given the AMA, service providers, insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies carte blanch to rape the American people to an unprecedented scale. What kind of medicine do you call that? I call it extortion. You will find it much easier to grasp important issues, if you do not pull out the the republican handbook of derogatory terms and focus solely on the issues.
Marcus Aurelius @ 26:
So's their wives.
As a vet, I have access to the VA.
If I didn't, I could well be dead by now.
Considering I was born dead, and expected to die within my first few days, that fact that I'm now in my late 40's was probably unexpected.
Like Ned Flanders said to Maude in a Pilgrim vignette of a Simpsons Halloween show, "We're both in our late 30's, well past our life expectancies."
Why is "socialist" a derogatory term? It simply means state run. pure and simple.
liver transplants have been denied in England, as well, under the NHS. Don't automatically assume they will cover everything. As for Cigna, it is my understanding the girl had leukemia and was in intensive care after receiving a bone marrow transplant from her brother. Her own doctors gave her only a 50% chance of living beyond 6 months. that doesn't mean that anyone should let her die. But I read an article by the head of the liver transplant program at the University of Wisconsin who said that leukemia patients are never good candidates for tranplant surgery. the liver failure as probably caused from the treatment for leukemia itself. one of the sad facts of life that the treatments used to cure cancer can also killl you (chemotherapy).
It was a tragic case. But the NHS has cost considerations, too, and England
s much vaunted "free" healthcare just doesn't provide anything near the world class medical care and state of the art treatments we get in the USA. It will be just the same in our country under a "socialized" (oh, sorry, i mean "government run", that's less inflammatory) system.
veritas @ 14:
No Veritas, She was wrongly diagnosed with a Thyroid condition, which after testing turned out to be negative. In other words, the doctor goofed, but that got on her record and the insurance companies have dummies reading the forms you send in and they go by some stupid checkoff list. So every time she tried, they said no. Even if she wanted to get the insurance to "not include" the phony thyroid condition. So she went uninsured until we got worried if something else happened we might lose our house, life savings and anything else leaving us destitute. Over here we get Blue Cross Blue Shield for $25 a month including prescriptions.
Fortunatly we kind of like it here, but miss our friends and family.
I lived for several years in Japan, and they have a system where you can enroll in government health insurance. Cost is based on how much you make, and the government pays 30% of any procedure, regardless of the cost. The premium is $700 a month, again, regardless of whether you have cancer, a toothache, whatever. And you can supplement that with your own private insurance if you so choose. It was great. Clinics are all privately run, and almost never require appointments. Ever call up your designated provider on a thursday with the flu and be told that he can see you the following week? Never happened in a Japan. If one clinic was busy, I'd just go the next one. No matter what day of the week it was I was back home in an hour. The health care was top notch, in fact, rated much higher than the USA. It would've been better if it was free, but it's a good start. Taxes are way lower there too. So there's more than one way to do it. But the USA is the wrong way. Anyone who says otherwise is either delusion, or very lucky. Either way, they don't speak for most of us.
Whens it going to end.
-_-
mags @ 23:
So, direct me to some affordable government-run insurance program (less than a car note per month, 'cause if its more than that, it ain't affordable).
BTW: Glad you didn't die in England. What kind of advanced treatments did you need while you were there? Are the ailments that required advanced treatments under the English system considered pre-existing conditions under your current US private health insurance? Does England have a better or worse survival rate than the US for those suffering a pulmonary embolism while hospitalized?
ummm....k-12 education is indeed mandated
what the fuck century does this man live in?
as for mandated health care....wouldnt we all be healthier and happier if yearly physicals were both mandated and covered?
ysbaddaden @ 29:
So's your mother.
Look, Americans are too stupid to rationally discuss their own healthcare - socialized, non-socialized, single payer or otherwise.
Ask any American about "healthcare" and you'll get a muddled disjointed rant about doctors and hospitals and co-pays and pre-existing conditions and god knows what else. In the end they will simply be happy with what they have (however minimal it is) and delude themselves with the notion that "it can't happen to them" and ignore the evidence proving otherwise.
Healthcare in the United States is one of those things that needs to crash and burn completely for your normal average brain-dead American to take notice.
Bring it on, I say,
Hey Duke. How bout this? You know, some basic regulation?
Washington Post - 17 minutes ago
Agency recalls of 143M pounds of beef from Calif. slaughterhouse in largest-ever U.S. beef recall.
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said his department has evidence that Westland did not routinely contact its veterinarian when cattle became non-ambulatory after passing inspection, violating health regulations.
"Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, the Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall," Schafer said in a statement.
Bloomberg is absolutely right.
Cash Rebates Like Booze For Alcoholics'
U.S.Resembling A 'Third-World Country'
My husband didn't need an advance treatment. he needed a hip replacement, for which he waited an entire year in severe pain, for a spot in an NHS hospital,finally opting to have it done in a private US hospital.
As for advanced treatments, many breast cancer drugs like tamoxifen are routinely denied to patients by the NHS.Transplants have been denied. I suggest you read any of the big London dailies, guardian.co.uk, telegraph.co.uk, independent.co.uk, timesonline.co.uk DAILY and read the horror stories of the NHS. Its not pretty and you'll be wondering if "socialized" (er, "state run", sorry) medicine is the way to go.
My brother said it. If you get out of a U.S. Hospital in better shape then you went in. Your either rich or lucky.
Mandates? He doesn't want mandates? Well, I don't want a mandate in spending my tax dollars on a illegal war in Iraq. How's that for you, Mr. "less jobs, more wars" McCain?
Not only does McCain want to deny us universal and affordable health care, he wants to deny us our right to a public education. What an jerk. He is truly brain injured. McCain and his supporters are nothing but dried up old people and I'm sick and tired of these old people. That statement was brought to you courtesy of an old person, me.
I just can't wait for this-
"Fight for the right to buy insurance".
It's like spread the misery or let's make sure everyone's in hell.
On second thought I'll wait to fight for a more socialized version, if I'm still alive then.
It's hiliarious listening to this guy on his show trying to come up off as an intellectual. This guy lacks the depth to make any reasoned analysis of anything.
This is Fidel Castro analysis of McCain...
McCain Is an Anti-Cuban Mafia Instrument, Fidel Castro
Havana, Feb 13 (Prensa Latina) Cuban President Fidel Castro stated that it is incredible that, in this day and age, republican candidate for the US presidency John McCain, honored as a hero, is turned into an instrument of the Miami anti-Cuban Mafia.
In the third part of his Wednesday article entitled "The Republican Candidate," the Cuban Revolution leaders wrote: "Nobody having an ounce of self-esteem would commit such a serious lapse in ethics".
http://www.plenglish.com/Default.asp
mags @ 4:
Its called a single payer system...
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/mythbusting-canadian-health-care-part-i
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/mythbusting-canadian-healthcare-part...
Every American without health insurance wakes up every morning feeling terror, fearful that if they get seriously ill, they will lose everything they own.
The issue with health insurance is that when a doctor or hospital accepts an insurance plan, they get paid 1/3 of what they charge from the insurance companies. The uninsured, on the other hand, get charged and expected to pay the full amount. Another issue is that it may take 6 months to 1 year for a doctor to get paid for their services from insurance companies. It's a racket and it should be illegal.
If I pay for your health care, what you choose to stick in your mouth or other orifice becomes my concern.
I would ban your indulgences. Prohibition.
Park a few aircraft carriers. Take care of your people.
Mandate is un-America, this is the land of choice, choose your education, choose to have kids, choose your economic status, choose your doctor etc.
SatanicPanic @ 33:
Sounds like a good plan. Our taxes would be lower, too, if we didn't have such an expensive military and an illegal war to finance.
Mags posts smell a bit trollish when you consider that the World Heath Organization ranks the US at #37 for leading health indicators and the United Kingdom ranks #18.
... but we did beat Slovenia so I guess it's really OK.
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html
chris @ 51:
You forgot "choose an early death because your parents lost health coverage and your easily treatable illness went undetected."
McCain, like many other of the now former Republican candidates, has quite a laundry list of items on his web site that he thinks will solve the high costs of health care.
Here's a question to any McCain supporter out there: McCain has been in the Senate for 22 years. During that time, and especially in the years since the Clintons brought the health care issue to the forefront across America, how many of these items has he put forth in any legislation, and how strongly has he fought to get them passed?
On his web site in the Issue Focus section, it states this regarding health care: "John McCain is willing to address the fundamental problem: the rapidly rising cost of U.S. health care."
Note that it says "is willing" and not "has been willing." As in, he hasn't done jack sh*t about it in his time in Congress.
Mag: If we had the best quality of care we would have the best of outcomes. That is far from the case. Plus we get to have the highest priced to boot. You may be fortunate but in any rational sense the U.S. does not have the best quality of care.
I mandate John McCain and his family quit the US government employee health insurance program.
Our Food and Drug Administration does not do enough to protect Americans from the Pharmaceutical Industry. Just look at all the drug recalls and look how doctors prescribe cholesterol lowering drugs to anyone with a cholesterol about 200 even though these drugs destroy the liver and cloud the memory. The UK may be doing its citizens a favor by withholding certain treatments that may be considered acceptable here because the drug companies paid lots of money for US approval.
I think I read on a thread here (?) yesterday about McCrazy being on Govt issued insurance since his birth, being his father was DOD, he was DOD, then Congress. So, he's always had government insurance.
fuddled @ 57:
I second your mandate.
LMAO! Repug campaigning is so retarded. I'm gonna tell you what I'm NOT going to do. Um.........k............Republican Koolaid....drink it up and convert it to pee.......there's a slogan for ya McStain
well that is Obama's line as well... Obama is not for mandates either - - Clinton is the only one in the picture who will mae sure every american is covered!!!!
WC @ 55:
In the interest of equality and fairness........what did the Dems or Clinton do for healthcare? Shrugged and give up? There has been many Dems elected since Nixon implemented this big insurance scam....why have none addressed this issue?
In s soup-nazi voice -
"No booze for you!
No cake for you!
no candy for you!
No cigarettes, cigars, pipes for you!"
Or perhaps,
"Thanks for shopping here. Please be ready to present your prescription when you purchase food items."
"Hi, I'm your state appointed health-coach! Today we will get you on the road to fitness, with jumping jacks!"
"You may think you have researched your best interests, but our society can't permit that course of self-care, because we consider consuming vitamins in excess of the RDA too risky."
mags @ 4:
I believe Romney passed mandated health care in MA as governor, even going so far as to charge people a fine if they didn't sign up. Yet I don't recall anyone screaming about a socialist program in that state. Nor did they label him a socialist.
As for Hillary, I do believe she wants Americans to have access to the same health care options as members of Congress; thus do you also label their health care options as being socialized?
wisconsin @ 62:
Sorry, this sounds like a flame, but BULLSHIT. What Hillary offers is not, will not, and is not going to change a damn thing, except forcing people to take insurance policies. That will do what? Mandated car insurance did what for the rates and quality of insurance? NOTHING. They just ended up price fixing so that every premium is almost identical, and every major insurance company started various smaller companies.
Brad at #49, if you pay into an insurance program and don't use more than you put into it, you ARE paying for other people's health care. Do you shake down the smokers and the overwieght at your place of employment and hassle them about their indulgences?
It's funny how many people rant about good and bad health care systems without the foggiest idea what they're talking about past their own limited personal experience. Sure, there are horror stories in ANY medical system--even the richest man in the world in the best hospital in existence could be misdiagnosed, and basically anybody can fall victim to a paperwork screwup.
But I'd rather just compare one system--the US--to another that I have experience with, Japan's. Japan has what you'd generally call socialized healthcare, and it's pretty simple: In the US, your doctor says "You should get an MRI." What will happen? If you have insurance, which a lot of people don't, they'll fill out paperwork and you'll probably get one eventually. If you're lucky, tomorrow. If not, maybe in a month or three--I've seen both happen personally, and I seriously doubt either is rare. The hospital will bill your insurance company for about $2000-3000, your insurance company will use their clout to say that about half of that "doesn't count" somehow (read: They're overcharging by a factor of at least two and the insurance company is part of the cabal), and you'll end up with a deductible/co-pay between $100 and $1500.
If you don't, no problem, just pay out of pocket. Meaning $2000-3000, if you can afford that. That double overcharge? You're not making enough money to be in the club, so you don't get the discount. Whoops. Note, by the way, that in any other functionally-monopolistic industry that'd be called gouging and would theoretically be illegal. Imagine if gas cost $6 a gallon unless you belonged to the somewhat restrictive Gas Insurance Company what people would say.
Do the same in Japan, and you'll probably have to wait in line for a long while, and you'll complain about it. There isn't much question of how you'll pay, since everyone is in on the government insurance policy. They'll then give you an MRI, and you'll be billed between $300-800, of which your government insurance will pay 70%, 90% if you're a senior.
Meaning that worst-case, it's going to cost you well under half of even the "magical insurance rate" you get in the US. Same machine, same approximate quality of doctors. Why? Because it's a well-regulated industry with a lot of government input and a whole load of economy of scale. Best case, you hand somebody $30 in cash on the way out and you're done. Think about that--no paperwork, no deductible, no calling the insurance company to figure out why they're denying your claim, none of that.
Socialized health care? Yes, please.
Oh, and if you want my personal anecdote, I was on a type of life support two years ago that with the magical insurance discount cost about $300 a day. Without? $1200, according to the paperwork. Meaning that I was exactly one "this isn't necessary" decision by my HMO from being dead. Which, incidentally, they eventually did. Just lucky that I had enough money of my own to--completely outside of what they were willing to pay for--go to a rich people hospital for proper treatment (which worked). Had I not been frugal for my entire adult life, and willing to spend every penny I'd saved for the past ten years (a buffer most people don't have), I'd be dead right now. Period.
I'd like to see McCain, or any other politician for that matter, try going without insurance for a couple of years. And heck, just to be nice, put them on an $80,000 a year budget for all needs while you're at it. I'll bet a decent percentage of them wouldn't survive their term in office.
Ron, i can't speak for our standing in the world in terms of health rankings.Read my previous posts on my English husband's year long wait to get a space in an NHS hospital for hip replacement surgery. What most people don't understand is that universal health care does not guarantee health care, as i found out during my 11 years living in the K. in 2006, the British Dept. of Health stated that 900,000 UK residents were waiting for surgical procedures in NHS hospitals. 900,000. I don't know why the USA ranks so low in health standing in the world, although, having lived in Nepal and Malaysia at other times in my life, I'd take the health care here (or in the UK) any day. Lifestyle may play a part of that, as well. I'm not arguing that people don't need affordable insurance, either. But even in the countries like the UK and Canada where it is "socialized", it doesn't guarantee you'll get the medicines you need or the procedures you need, or done in a prompt manner. My husband suffered a year of great pain just waiting for a bed to open up in an NHS hospital for his hip replacement. And when new technologies come available, the NHS has to up the taxes in order to pay for them. Who gets hurt? the average consumer. Yes, it will be more "equitable" but everyone will get hit with a massive tax bill. State run medicine is not "free" in any sense of the word. Ask any citizen of countries with socialized (oops, sorry, i mean "state run",even though it means the same thing) systems what percentage of taxes they pay. You will be shocked.
Joementum @ 54:
Because the parents did have enough education to survive in the job market and they do not know how to save and handle money!
JustPassingThru @ 67:
Actually, I smiled kindly at the fat diabetics buying their ho-ho's. They knew exactly what they were doing. I wish they wouldn't, but it isn't my business. I think people have the right to sicken themselves, or commit suicide. Except on my dime.
mags @ 69:
My system is far from perfect in my country and it varies from province to province, but without the insurance industries greed involved, it is decades ahead of the US system. Does it have it's problems? Yes, all systems have their problems. Will you have wait times? Yes, for some things, due to demand, there are wait times. BUT. Do they turn you upside down, empty your wallet, empty your bank account, and mortgage your house before they will perform simple surgery? HELL NO! The procedure is done. Period.
Brad @ 71:
People should remember that if you ever get sick. Do you refuse to pay for fire and police because, hey they shouldn't be wasted on your dime? Or how about your car insurance? How do you think that system works? You think you get every nickel you pay in back? Hahahaha......I thought dinosaurs were extinct.
People. If socialism isn't so bad, then the word should be so bad either. Just embrace it.
You let them turn the word liberal into a bad word. Don't let them turn socialist into a bad word too.
Scream it to the rooftops, "I'm proud to be a socialist!"
ConcernedCanuck @ 73:
have a ho-ho.
I noticed that everyone who has healthcare, particularly those that get it as a perk for their job, don't think health care should be provided as a perk for being an American to Americans.
It's kind of like those who are employed believing government assistance for food, shelter, heating, cooling, and child care shouldn't be provided because it's "freeloading".
Yet John McCain and his Bush Repugs gave and still give FREE HEALTH CARE INCLUDING DENTAL to every single Iraqi citizen paid for by the US tax payer.
McCain has been providing free health care to Iraqis for years.
I hereby hex John McCain like his daddy claimed the diesel engines on his submarine were hexed during WWII causing him to spend the entire war at Pearl Harbor getting refitted or cruising around the Pacific not doing much of anything else while everyone else was trying to win the war.
Check out Admiral McCain's war record during WWII. He finally sank a couple of ships near the end. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_S._McCain%2C_Jr.
The McCain's are the biggest losers the US Navy ever produced. The current McCain is no different and the rest will be equally as incompetent and self serving.
"Marine Corp Veterans For Truth" will get McCain.
Brad @ 75:
Ho-ho's are saved for Repubs that think that there is an evil socialist around every corner. You have no problem your taxes paying for a massive unnecessary military, but you have a problem with your taxes paying to repair your niece or neighbour's liver? Ya, big hearted you are. Another Ronnie Raygun worshiper.
ConcernedCanuck @ 79:
You make so many wrong assumptions about me. I have to conclude you are stupid.
Brad @ 80:
I read your posts, so if I made wrong assumptions, perhaps it is your posts that were in fact written wrong. I'd have to make a conclusion, but I do not call other posters stupid. It is against C&L's rules.
I think the voters in the 2008 Presidential election will assure him of just how wrong he and the republicans stand is on not just health care, but everything they say and do.
Current McName List:
McSundowner
McCatatonic
McCaintgonnalastmuchlonger
McDepends
McMyfriends
McFlipflop
McGlazedgaze
McCandidate
McCandlesawickinapuddle
McInsane
McLame
McAintooproudtabeg
McTreason
McHypocrite
McBeach Boy
McCan’t
McCrazed
McCallMeWhenItsOver
McDouche
McDouchebag
McRage
McMaverick(McNot)
McCave
McCrazy
McCreepy
McMoron
McShithead
McRetard
McRethuglicontheotard
McKillemall
McDementia
McCancer
McCroaker
McCracked
McMeshuggah(nah)
McCain-unable
McDiaper
McCrashy
McCaca
McCrustypants
McInane'nthemembrane
McBore(ing)
McStepford
Mc'teched
McDick - Mc'taint - McAsshole
McCapitulator
McBomby
McYellowTeeth
McSlime
McScarface
McScarem
McCantankerous
McPain
McPiehole
McCheeks
McSchmuckabeesbiotch
McIdiot
McDiddler
McBain
McWhereAmI
McAreYouMyNurse?
McIfIAintInTheBathroomWhyAmICrapping?
McLiar
McPhoney
McMoreofthesame
McCanus
McKinky
McBaneOfMyExistence
McTurncoat
McCrazyEyes
McWeiner
McWimpy
McStinkyPants
McTortureSucksNoItRules
McKiddingHimself
McLoser
McLackOfPrinciples
McWarmonger
McCankle
McCelebutard
McQaida
McConstipated
McCandyass
McCashWhore
McKaboom
McNitwit
McPutz
McTorture
McDense
Mcinsain
McStain
Pile on, C&L'ers!
Will update at my convenience on pertinent threads.
8-D
MacDaKnife @ 30:
What we have in the U.S. is "anti-social" medicine. Where the big HMO's and Pharmaceuticals are raking in mega-billions at the expense of hard-working Americans and screwing them right and left when they try to make a claim.
Nobody left in the race has proposed a government-run health care system (like Great Britain's)... nobody left in the race is even proposing a single-payer (government pays) health care system. What is being proposed by the Democrats is that insurance companies should no longer be able to deny coverage selectively.... Hillary wants to compel all working Americans above a certain means to buy insurance (this increases the pool and spreads the risk)... Obama says he won't mandate that everyone buy it, but will provide subsidies to make it affordable to those who want it. IT WILL STILL BE RUN BY INSURANCE COMPANIES, HMO's, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOSPITALS, PRIVATE PRACTICE DOCTORS, etc.
NOBODY IS PROPOSING GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE, like what McCain has enjoyed all his life in the military and in government.
It's a damn shame really, because health care should not be a profit opportunity for the HMO's and Insurers... they do nothing to increase productivity in this society, they are parasites of the highest order. The money should go to pay doctors, nurses, hospitals who actually provide the care. Every other affluent Western nation has figured this out, except us. Yes, it costs more in taxes... but it costs employers less and makes them more productive and profitable, it spreads the risk evenly and is more cost effective by any measure.
The nay-sayers can state all the "nightmare stories" about care in England, Canada or anywhere else, just like we can state hundreds of thousands of nightmare stories about HMO's letting people go without care or even die in order to make a profit. The fact that the British or Canadian systems have issues is IMMATERIAL... we can do it better, as long as the Republicans stay out of it and don't fuck it up for the rest of us. What kind of retarded strategy is it to pass a law that PREVENTS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT FROM NEGOTIATING BETTER DRUG PRICES??? Republican Strategy aimed at paying their masters back, that's what.
So, Republican "conservative individualists"... go straight to hell with your selfish "I got mine, so fuck you" attitudes and get out of the way of progress. Your lizard brains simply can't comprehend that human health and life outweigh profits... tell that to your preacher on Sunday.
Mike @ 14:
Er - did I just hear McCain say he's against compulsory education? Hmmm. Is he against compulsory car insurance too?
McCain was one of the "Keating Five," congressmen investigated on ethics charges for strenuously helping convicted racketeer Charles Keating after he gave them large campaign contributions and vacation trips.
Charles Keating was convicted of racketeering and fraud in both state and federal court after his Lincoln Savings & Loan collapsed, costing the taxpayers $3.4 billion.
McCain intervened on behalf of Charles Keating after Keating gave McCain at least $112,000 in contributions. McCain's wife and father-in-law also were the largest investors (at $350,000) in a Keating shopping center; the Phoenix New Times called it a "sweetheart deal."
Mafia ties:
In 1995, McCain sent birthday regards, and regrets for not attending, to Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonano, the head of the New York Bonano crime family, who had retired to Arizona.
http://www.realchange.org/mccain.htm
McCheneyInsurance
Brad @ 73:
Did you know that doctors in England (socialized medicine) are incentivized (monetarily) when their patients are in good health, quit smoking, reduce blood pressure, lose weight, etc?
Here, doctors are incentivized by Pharmaceuticals to prescribe more (preferably patented) overpriced drugs.
Interesting, huh?
John McCrazy is wandered off again . . . poor old fool.
Seems he forgets that he was an officers child (first in line, free health care unquestioned), in the military (need you ask?) and spent 22 years with the greatest Congressional Health Care System taxpayers can buy . . . and ALL this time did Butsk for a affordable health care.
Maybe if he was paid a minimum wage job and had to find insurance for himself and a child things MIGHT change, until then, we'll get the usual WISH and HOPE crap while insurance companies continue to write our health legislation . . .
I am educated and safe for now, can I stop paying to educate America's future and paying for a war against someone who didn't attack me?
sofla @ 88:
Yes. I'm reminded of the stories I heard of how doctors in China were paid by people when they were well, but not when ill.
Apparently, John McCain hasn't been to any hospital outside of Bethesda, MD.
Hospitals aren't allowed to refuse treatment to anyone in need. I believe it's the law.
AKA SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!
Did McCain get addicted to GO PILLS in the US Navy?
He sure talks like a meth head.
Well, for me to get coverage with my business, we need small group plan. (Currently four people eligible with the company).
My employer will pay half of my total cost for coverage of visits and presciptions, so my monthly payment is $75.
My co-pay, for every visit, is no less than $30, and increases on some vague definition of "type" of visit, and what i end of being diagnosed with, prescribed, and treated for.
Seriously. My wife, being of child-bearing age, her cost would $450/month, same co-pays. We can barely afford my coverage, and we can't afford hers, not now.
No dental, no vision.
As I remarked to some friends in a discussion about this, "unless I get cancer or some other rather expensive disease, there's no sense for me to continue coverage" because the costs and benefits don't add up for me.
So, if the rash i have isn't eczema, the moles are all benign, and the lymph node swelling is also benign, I'll end up canceling coverage, and trying to simply save $ to pay for any emergencies that might happen. We're under 30, vegan/vegtarian, so the chances are in our favor.
And if you work for a fortune 500 and they pay your healthcare, stop bitching about socialized healthcare. You end up paying less, and I and my wife might be able to afford something.
Proud2bHumble@83:
Don't forget
McCombover
McKeating5
McCantgetelected
Whine,
Why is it as a middle classman. I never need help and the Gov't help is the worst thing for me.
But if I am Halibutron, Blackwater, Enron, prime morgage scandal ridden, Airlines, exxon/Mobil, Big Pharma, Telecoms, then I need all the subsidies and Gov't laws in my favor I can waive a thick sealed envelope under the table at.???
I know, shut up and keep building the pyramid.... before the Pharoah gets mad..
Robt @ 93:
because it isn't a handout if rich corporations get our taxpayer dollars, it isn't a waste of our taxpayer dollars if it goes to Iraq in the corporate black hole, it isn't socialism if rich corporations benefit...
Less government, no mandates, more tax cuts. Let's see, as a result, the infrascture is dire straits, energy prices are skyrocketing, and there was a beef recall the other day in Los Angeles. The reason for that is because, the company was selling beef from sick cows. This is happening more of late than at in other time in my 53 years.
This is what less government intrusion on the private sector will get you. Oh, did you know they are doing a rush job on hiring air traffic controllers. The hero Reagan busted the union, and our skies are unsafe.
John McCain has had government funded healthcare all his life.
He did while he was in the military and he continues to this day with his government employee healthcare. All paid by the taxpayers. He likes his healthcare and doesn't want anyone else to have it.
Republicans think of no one but themselves.
ucsbclassics53 @ 94:
I wonder if Obama can make that point in a way that can make its way into an American's brain? Americans are disgusting when it comes down to it. They have no ability to think for themselves or have any idea what is in their best interest.
These pigs want billions for war but when it come to helping their neighbor they say no! We must ensure the defeat of McCrazy and his dogshit party this fall.
we can only hope mccain has a heart attack and his insurance won't cover it
for............oh, you know?.......pre-condition.
Since paying taxes is a mandate, let's follow McCain's logic.
How about this:
Let the tax-payers check off a box on what they want their hard earned money to go to.
I bet most people would check boxes that said something about health care for their families and money for going after the scam-artists who brought us the S&L scandals in the 80's, the Enron energy bullshit in the early 2000's and the super-duper credit banking crunch we have going on now that are leaving people in the lurch.
I'll betcha people would really vote against big Pharma and HMO's and the like.
This will never happen because the lobbyists would sent out hit men on anyone who proposed such a fair and balanced step.
We get no vote on where our money is going.
Now that is bullshit.
I'll also bet if people were allowed a vote on funding the Iraq and Afghani wars that most wouldn't want to pay for it.
If anyone was allowed a choice.
The Terrorists Still at Ground Zero, 7 World Trade Center, Lower Manhattan
In fact it's almost entirely Medicare, not Social Security, that accounts for the projected rising costs in our shrivelled welfare state. The culprit here is not the swelling ranks of older people but the insurance and drug companies' grip on our health system. Conversion to single-payer would mean huge savings. The U.S. pays around 14 per cent of its gross domestic product for health care, twice what other advanced industrial countries pay. Shift to single payer and quit shoving money--4.8 per cent of GDP--down the imperial sink-hole and there's no fiscal crisis of any sort, short or long term for Moody's or anyone else to fret about. And in the even shorter term, if Moody's sees fiscal crisis looming, why don't its overpaid executives for once put the national interest first and call for a tax hike on the rich? Bob Pollin tells me that just going back to Clinton, as opposed to Bush-2, on taxes for those making over $200,000 a year, would generate $60 billion a year. Do this and end the war in Iraq and you wipe out the deficit at a stroke.
Let a real war on terror commence!
Amid its blackmailing threats to launch a terrorist onslaught on the credit rating of the United States, Moody's has its moments of honesty about the capitalist rackets in which it is a major player. Witness its extraordinarily forthright recent background document, "Archaeology of the Crisis", part of its series, "Moody's Global Financial Risk Perspectives" "In the financial industry, in contrast with other businesses, there is a point beyond which increased competition is not stability-enhancing, but rather potentially destabilizing past a certain point--difficult to identify--more competition means more, and perhaps socially undesirable risk-taking."
Why is it such a bad idea to mandate that every American has health insurance? Every driver has to have car insurance. We all pay for the roads to be fixed, firefighters to be paid, etc. if you want to pay for your own private insurance, feel free. If you stop doing so, you are automatically back on the state plan. They can't make you go in for a yearly physical (though they can give you some sort of nice incentive for doing so), but they can pay for your ambulance if you get in a car accident. What the hell is wrong with that? When did having no insurance become better that having to deal with Kaiser Permanente? Hell, I hate Kaiser with every fiber of my being, but they're still better than nothing.
Call it what you will. Do I support "socialized medicine?" Every Day of the Week and Twice on Sundays.
Bananaphone @ 104:
AMEN
I live in Minnesota and I don't see canadians crashing the border to get health care hear in th US. I do see lots of americans going to canada to get their drugs at a price they can afford.
Trickle down poverty. Born under a senile old prick (Reagan), and died under a senile old prick (McCain). This guy is going to lose everyone but the lunatic fringe by November.
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